US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The mission of the USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service is "to enhance the quality of life for rural Americans by providing leadership in building competitive businesses including sustainable cooperatives that can prosper in the global marketplace." 

They meet these goals by: 

  • investing financial resources and providing technical assistance to businesses and cooperatives located in rural communities;
  • establishing strategic alliances and partnerships that leverage public, private, and cooperative resources to create jobs and stimulate rural economic activity.
In Fiscal Year 2000, a total of 721 loans and 473 grants totaling $1,151,923,995 were disbursed. This resulted in 73,375 jobs either being created or saved, and 2,552 businesses assisted in rural America.

FISCAL YEAR 2001 PROGRAM LEVELS
  • Business and Industry Guaranteed - $1.556 billion
  • Business and Industry Guaranteed Disaster/
    Emergency Assistance - $1.16 billion
  • Business and Industry Direct - $50 million
  • Intermediary Relending Program - $38.256 million
  • Rural Business Enterprise Grant - $40.664 million
  • Rural Economic Development Loan - $15 million
  • Rural Economic Development Grant - $3 million
  • Rural Business Opportunity Grant - $8 million

To receive more information about these business services visit the USDA online at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/bprogs.htm

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