Who Can Apply for 

USDA Rural Development 

Loans and Grants?

Depending on the program, funding is available 

to federally recognized tribes, tribal enterprises, 

nonprofits, and tribal members. Loan and grant 

resources are available both on and off reservations 

and tribal trust lands. American Indian and Alaska 

Native homeowners, homebuyers, business owners, 

and agricultural producers are also eligible for many 

of our programs.

Where are USDA 

Rural Development 

Programs Available?

Assistance under our programs is available to 

applicants in areas designated as “rural.” Under 

law, the definition of “rural area” is different for 

each program. 

Utility Programs

We place a high priority on financing utility 

infrastructure and service for American Indians 

and Alaska Natives in substantially underserved 

trust areas.

• Electric Loans: Low-interest financing for service 

providers to construct electric generation, 

transmission, distribution and smart grid facilities 

serving rural areas, and energy efficiency 

programs for rural and tribal consumers.

• Telecommunications Loans: Financing for 

telecommunications providers to construct, 

maintain, improve, and expand telephone 

service and broadband service in rural areas.

• Broadband Loans and Community Connect 

Grants: Loans and grants to construct, 

improve, or acquire facilities and equipment 

for high-speed broadband in rural areas.

• Distance Learning and Telemedicine: 

Financing to purchase equipment to expand 

access to quality health care and education 

services in rural areas. This program can link 

medical service providers and teachers in one 

area to patients and students in another.

For More Information

USDA Rural Development American Indian/Alaska 

Native Coordinators are available in each State that 

serves federally recognized tribes to increase access 

to our programs and resources throughout Indian 

Country and Alaska.

www.rd.usda.gov

1 (800) 670-6553 (toll free)

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender.

PA-2207

September 2016 From USDA Rural Development

Assistance for 

Tribal Nations
Business Programs

• Business and Industry Loan Guarantees: 

Provides financial backing to start or expand 

rural small businesses. Loans are made by 

participating local lenders and guaranteed by 

USDA Rural Development. 

• Intermediary Relending Program: Offers loans to 

local intermediaries such as nonprofits and Native 

Community Development Financial Institutions 

(CDFIs) that re-lend to businesses and community 

development projects.

• Rural Businesses Development Grants: 

Competitive grants that encourage development 

or expansion of rural businesses. The grants may 

be used for targeted technical assistance, training, 

and other activities that create or retain jobs.

• Rural Energy for America Program: Provides 

loan guarantees and grants to agricultural 

producers, rural small businesses, and tribal utility 

enterprises to buy or install renewable energy 

systems or make energy efficiency improvements. 

Grants are available for intermediaries, such as 

federally recognized tribes, for energy audits and 

renewable energy development assistance.

• Value-Added Producer Grants: Helps farmers and 

ranchers add value to their products, and can be 

used to develop new products, create and expand 

marketing opportunities, and increase income.

• Cooperative Grants: Grants are available to 

support the development of cooperatives, including 

assistance to socially disadvantaged groups.

USDA Rural Development delivers assistance 

in four key program areas:

Housing Programs

• Single-Family Housing Loans: Direct loans and 

loan guarantees to buy an existing home, to build 

a new home, or to buy and prepare a lot for new 

construction. Funds are also available to refinance 

an existing home. We partner with lenders to 

provide the most affordable mortgage options for 

homeownership by providing loan guarantees.

• Home Repair Program: Affordable loans for home 

repairs or to improve or modernize a home for families 

and individuals with limited income. For seniors age 

62 and over who cannot afford a loan, grant funds are 

available to remove health and safety hazards.

• Multi-Family Housing Loans: Direct loans and loan 

guarantees to finance rental housing complexes for 

rural families, seniors, and people with disabilities at 

affordable rents. Some tenants may receive rental 

assistance to help with monthly rent payments. USDA 

partners with participating local private-sector lenders 

to develop rental housing through loan guarantees.

Community Programs

• Community Facilities Loans and Grants: 

Offers direct loans, loan guarantees, and small 

grants to develop or improve a wide range of 

essential public services and facilities.

• Water and Waste Disposal Loans and 

Grants: Provides funding to build, expand, 

or improve facilities and services for safe, 

clean, and reliable water and sewer systems 

in rural areas.

USDA Rural Development 

Support for Tribal Nations 

At USDA Rural Development we are 

committed to helping improve the 

economy and quality of life for tribes, tribal 

communities, tribal members, and native 

peoples in rural America and remote rural 

Alaska villages. We have a variety of financial 

support and technical assistance programs to 

foster growth and development in the areas 

of homeownership, business development, 

critical community facilities, technological 

advances and utilities infrastructure, and 

more. USDA Rural Development has State and 

local offices across rural America, with staff 

dedicated to the needs of Tribal Nations. Talk 

to the American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) 

Coordinator in your area to learn more about 

our programs and to get started.

What Kind of Assistance 

Does USDA Rural 

Development Provide?

We provide many different types of assistance 

to tribes, including direct loans, loan 

guarantees, grants, technical assistance, 

and research and educational materials. 

Many programs have funding set-aside 

exclusively for use by federally recognized 

tribes, tribal entities, and tribal members. We 

work in partnership with tribal governments, 

stakeholders, rural businesses, cooperatives, 

and nonprofits to help bring additional 

resources and assistance to Tribal Nations.