Together, America Prospers

Rural Cooperative Development Grants

What does this 

program do?

The primary objective of the 

RCDG program is to improve 

the economic condition 

of rural areas by assisting 

individuals and businesses 

in the startup, expansion, or 

operational improvement of rural 

cooperatives and other mutuallyowned businesses through 

Cooperative Development 

Centers. Grants are awarded 

through a national competition. 

Each fiscal year, applications 

are requested through a notice 

published in the Federal Register

and through an announcement 

posted on Grants.gov.

Who may apply for this program?

• Non-profit corporations

• Cooperatives

• Institutions of higher education

• Public bodies, for-profit businesses, 

and individuals are not eligible

Matching funds requirement:

Twenty-five (25) percent of total 

project costs (5 percent for Native 

American tribally-controlled colleges 

and universities that were granted 

land-grant status under an Act of 

Congress in 1994).

How may funds be used?

Grant and matching funds can be 

used for operating a Rural Cooperative 

Development Center. Examples of 

work that the Centers can do are:

• Conducting feasibility studies

• Developing business plans

• Providing leadership and operational 

improvement training

• Facilitating strategic planning

Note that the Center can be located 

in any area, but the individuals and 

business assisted must be located in 

an eligible rural area.

How do we get started?

Before you apply:

• Request a Data Universal Number 

System (DUNS) number if your 

organization doesn’t already have 

one. It should not take more than 

a few business days to get your 

number. However, you should plan 

on requesting it at least a month before 

the application deadline because 

you’ll need that number for the next 

pre-application step (see below).

• Register your organization with the 

System for Award Management 

(SAM) if you aren’t already 

registered. The registration is free, 

but you need to complete several 

steps. It’s a good idea to start 

the registration process at least 

a month before any application 

deadline. Before you start the 

registration process, we suggest 

reading through the HELP materials 

available on the SAM website. Then, 

you’ll need to create an account. 

After you create your account by 

setting up a user id and password, 

you can register your organization. 

Remember, you’ll need your 

DUNS number to complete your 

registration. Also, make a note of 

your Commercial And Government 

Entity (CAGE) code and expiration 

date because you’ll need those for 

your application.

Who can answer questions?

If you have questions, you can contact 

your nearest RD office.
Rural Cooperative Development Grants

Will I need to send any reports if 

I receive a grant?

If you receive a grant, you’ll need 

to send regular financial and 

performance reports. Your grant 

agreement will tell you how often you 

need to send the reports, what forms 

you need to use and what information 

you’ll need to put in the reports.

Where can I get more information 

about the program?

Please read the Federal Register 

Notice for important information needed 

before applying for the grant, and 

consult the RCDG program regulations.

What governs this program? 

Regulation: 7 USC 1932 (310)(B)(e). 

NOTE: Because citations and other information may be subject to change, 

please always consult the program instructions listed in the section above 

titled “What Governs This Program?” You may also contact your local office for 

assistance. You will find additional forms, resources, and program information at 

rd.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Last Updated January 2020