Together, America Prospers

Assistance for Small and 

Very Small Meat Processors 

USDA Rural Development is working together with the Office of Food Safety to help meat 

processors build their business to meet growing demand. Honoring our commitment to 

rural America’s prosperity and quality of life, we offer the following Rural Development 

loans, grants, and loan guarantees. 

Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) Program 

Helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities 

related to the processing and marketing of new products. 

The goals of this program are to generate new products, 

create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase 

producer income. 

Eligibility: Independent producers, agricultural producer 

groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and majoritycontrolled producer-based business ventures may apply. 

Available Funding: A maximum of $250,000 for working 

capital grants, and $75,000 for planning grants. Participating 

producers must supply 50 percent of the total project cost.

Applying for Assistance: This program is administered 

annually, and applications are usually due in March of 

each year. Contact a USDA Rural Development Business 

Programs specialist in your state for more information.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance 

Program (RMAP) 

Provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development 

Organizations (MDOs) to help microenterprises start and grow 

by providing loans and training and technical assistance to 

microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. 

Eligible MDOs: Nonprofits, Federally recognized Tribes, 

and institutions of higher education may apply for RMAP 

funds on a quarterly basis. 

Eligible Business Borrowers: Businesses in an eligible 

rural area with 10 or fewer full-time employees. 

Available Funding: The maximum RMAP loan from the 

MDO to an eligible business is $50,000. Funds may be 

used for general business purposes including working 

capital, equipment and real estate. The loan maturity 

cannot exceed 10 years. 

Applying for Assistance: Businesses apply directly to 

an MDO in their area. Over 200 MDOs currently have 

loan funds available. Businesses may contact a Rural 

Development Business Programs specialist in your state

for a list of active MDOs. 

Rural Economic Development Loan and 

Grant Program (REDLG) 

Provides grants and zero-interest loans to rural utility 

organizations. Grant funds are used to establish Revolving 

Loan Funds. Loan funds are in turn loaned by the utility to 

business projects that will create or retain rural jobs. The 

local businesses repay the lending utility directly, who then 

repays USDA.

Eligible REDLG Recipients: Current and former 

Rural Utilities Service (RUS) borrowers in good standing, 

and nonprofit utilities eligible to receive RUS assistance 

may apply. 

Eligible Business Borrowers: Businesses in an eligible 

rural area, generally a customer within the utility’s service 

area. Maximum loan amount from the utility to the business 

is $1 million. 

Applying for Assistance: Businesses apply directly to their 

local non-profit or cooperative rural utility. REDLG funds are 

awarded quarterly to eligible utility borrowers. 

Intermediary Relending Program (IRP)

Provides low-interest loans to rural lenders to establish a 

revolving loan fund that provides loans to rural businesses 

for general business purposes including working capital, 

equipment and real estate. 

Eligible IRP Borrowers: Nonprofits, cooperatives, 

Federally recognized Tribes, and public agencies may 

apply for IRP funds. 

Eligible Business Borrowers: Any legal business entity 

located in an eligible rural area may apply for a loan up 

to $250,000. 

Applying for Assistance: Businesses apply directly to 

the IRP entity in their area. Over 300 IRP entities currently 

have loan funds available. Businesses may contact a Rural 

Development Business Programs specialist in your state for 

a list of active IRP lenders. 
Assistance for Small and

Very Small Meat Processors

Rural Development currently offers two different 

Business and Industry Program (B&I) loans. 

Original Business and Industry (B&I) 

Loan Guarantee Program

Offers guarantees to conventional lenders for loans to rural 

businesses. To be eligible to participate, lenders must have 

legal authority, financial strength, and sufficient experience 

to operate a successful lending program. 

Available Funding: USDA is authorized to underwrite a 

maximum of $25 million for a B&I loan guarantee.

Eligibility: For-profit businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, 

Federally recognized Tribes, and public bodies are eligible 

to apply for B&I guaranteed loans.

Applying for Assistance: Applications for assistance are 

accepted year-round.

B&I CARES Act Program 

Offers guaranteed loans to lenders for their loans to rural 

businesses and some agricultural producers to supplement 

their working capital to prevent, prepare for, and respond to 

the economic impacts of the coronavirus. Funding limits are 

the same as for the original B&I program.

Borrower Eligibility: Rural businesses, including 

agricultural producers not eligible for USDA Farm Service 

Agency loans, that were in operation on Feb. 15, 2020.

Applying for Assistance: The application deadline is 

9/15/2021, or until the funding is expended. 

Rural Development currently offers two 

different Rural Energy for America Program 

(REAP) grants. 

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 

Loan and Grant Program (REAP)

Funds can be used for renewable energy systems such 

as biomass, wind generation, and solar generation, 

and purchasing and constructing energy efficiency 

improvements such as insulation, heating, cooling or 

refrigeration units, and lighting.

Available Funding: Loans of up to $500,000, grants of up 

to $250,000.

Eligibility: Agricultural producers and small businesses in 

eligible rural areas.

Applying for Assistance: Applications are accepted 

year-round.

REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy 

Development Assistance Grants 

Provide funding to state and local governments and 

other entities to conduct energy audits, and renewable 

energy development assistance. The funds must be 

used to assist rural businesses in eligible rural areas and 

agricultural producers. 

Available Funding: $100,000 per fiscal year.

Eligibility: State and local governments, Federally 

recognized Tribes, land-grant colleges and universities 

and other institutions of higher education, rural electric 

cooperatives, public power entities, Resource Conservation 

& Development Councils.

Applying for Assistance: Applications are accepted 

year-round.

For help in applying for assistance, contact your Rural 

Development State office: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.

More information on these and all other 

USDA Rural Development business programs is 

available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programsservices/all-programs/business-programs.

As the leading Federal agency for rural development prosperity, we work to help rural communities 

grow and prosper. For additional resources and information about our business, community or housing 

programs, contact our program specialists at 1-800-670-6553 or visit us online at rd.usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Last Updated July 2020