Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP 09 RBEG ARRA
Apply for RDBCP 09 RBEG ARRA
- The Business and Cooperative Programs in the business and commerce community development recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Business Enterprise Grant Programs (RBEG)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 27, 2009 and posted on Mar 27, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Applications submitted for ARRA funding may be submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office until funds are depleted or until a date to be published in Fiscal Year 2010, whichever occurs earlier.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applicants eligible for RBEG funds are public bodies and private nonprofit corporations, such as States, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations which will serve rural areas. Rural area for this program is defined as a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less, other than an urbanized area immediately adjacent to a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population in excess of 50,000 inhabitants. Applications will only be accepted from eligible entities. Applications will not be considered for funding if they do not provide sufficient information to determine eligibility or are missing required elements. Applications must be submitted in paper format to the USDA Rural Development State Office where the project is located. Applications may not be submitted by electronic mail. All applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at no cost via a toll free request line at 1 866 705 5711. An application must contain all of the required elements. Each application received in a USDA Rural Development State Office will be reviewed to determine if it is consistent with the eligible purposes contained in section 310B(c) of the CONACT. Each selection priority criterion outlined in 7 CFR 1942.305(b)(3), must be addressed in the application. Failure to address any of the criteria will result in a zero point score for that criterion and will impact the overall evaluation of the application. Copies of 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G, will be provided to any interested applicant making a request to a USDA Rural Development State Office listed in this notice. The program is administered on behalf of RBS at the State level by the USDA Rural Development State Offices. Assistance provided to rural areas under this program may include on site technical assistance to local and regional governments, public transit agencies, and related non profit and for profit organizations in rural areas the development of training materials and the provision of necessary training assistance to local officials and agencies in rural areas. Awards under the RBEG program will be made on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G, and in accordance with section 310B(c)(2) of the CONACT. Information required to be in the application package includes the following documents SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance RD 1940 20, Request for Environmental Information Scope of Work Narrative Income Statement Balance Sheet or Audit for previous 3 years AD 1047, Debarment/Suspension Certification AD 1048, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion AD 1049, Certification Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements Restrictions on Lobbying RD 400 1, Equal Opportunity Agreement RD 400 4, Assurance Agreement Letter stating Board authorization to obtain assistance Letter certifying citizenship, as referenced in 7 CFR 1942.307(b). The project that scores the greatest number of points based on the RBEG selection criteria and the discretionary points will be selected for each grant. The RBEG program is administered through State allocations. Applications will be received, reviewed, scored and funded at the State Office level. All applicants will be notified by USDA Rural Development of the Agency s decision on the awards. All projects requesting assistance through ARRA grant funds are to be conspicuously identified when the applications are submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program (RBEG) is a USDA Rural Development funding opportunity administered through the Agency's Business and Cooperative Programs and delivered primarily through USDA Rural Development State Offices. This particular notice covers funding made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and makes clear that applicants must meet standard RBEG requirements as well as ARRA-specific compliance obligations. For non-construction projects, that mainly means ARRA reporting requirements. For construction projects, ARRA reporting still applies, and projects must also comply with Davis-Bacon wage rules and Buy America requirements.
The award type is a grant, and there is no cost sharing or matching funds requirement. The opportunity uses FY 2009 and FY 2010 funds, with total funding listed at $20,000,000. The program expected to make roughly 200 awards, with an average award size of about $99,000. Awards are described as ongoing, meaning funds are awarded as projects are approved and funded rather than on one single fixed award date.
Eligible applicants are limited to certain types of organizations, primarily public bodies and private nonprofit corporations that will serve rural areas. Examples include states, counties, cities, townships, incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Indian tribes on federal or state reservations, as long as the project benefits qualifying rural communities. For this program, a rural area is generally a city, town, or unincorporated area with a population of 50,000 or less, excluding an urbanized area that is immediately adjacent to a city or area with a population above 50,000. Only eligible entities can apply, and applications that do not include enough information to verify eligibility or that are missing required components will not be considered.
Applications must be submitted in paper form to the USDA Rural Development State Office where the project will take place. Submissions by email are not allowed. Applicants must also have a DUNS number (issued by Dun and Bradstreet) before applying. The closing date is flexible: applications for ARRA funding could be submitted until the allocated funds are depleted or until a later date published during FY 2010, whichever came first. In practice, that means timing matters, and applicants are competing not only on scoring but also against the pace at which each state allocation is used.
RBEG awards are competitive and scored using selection criteria laid out in federal regulation at 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G, along with requirements referenced from section 310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT). Each application is reviewed first for eligibility and for alignment with eligible purposes under the statute and regulations. The application must explicitly address each of the stated selection priority criteria in 7 CFR 1942.305(b)(3). If an applicant fails to address any criterion, that criterion receives a zero score, which can significantly reduce the application's competitiveness. The highest-scoring project, based on the criteria and any discretionary points, is selected for funding within the relevant grant competition and state allocation structure.
The program is administered through state allocations, and the State Office is the central point for receiving, reviewing, scoring, and funding applications. Applicants are notified by USDA Rural Development of the award decision. The notice also emphasizes that any project requesting ARRA grant funds must be clearly identified as such at the time of submission, which ties back to ARRA tracking and transparency requirements.
The notice indicates that assistance supported by RBEG in rural areas can include items such as on-site technical assistance to local and regional governments, public transit agencies, and other related nonprofit and for-profit organizations, as well as development of training materials and delivery of training assistance to local officials and agencies. This framing reflects RBEG's broader purpose of strengthening rural business and community development capacity rather than serving as a direct business subsidy to ineligible applicants. The exact project activities still need to fit within the eligible purposes described in the governing statute and regulations, and the State Office review is meant to ensure that alignment.
The application package is document-heavy and includes standard federal forms and USDA Rural Development-specific forms. Required elements listed in the notice include SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance); RD 1940-20 (Request for Environmental Information); a scope of work narrative; financial documentation such as an income statement and balance sheet or audits for the previous three years; multiple certifications (including AD-1047, AD-1048, AD-1049) covering debarment/suspension, exclusion, and drug-free workplace requirements; lobbying restrictions; civil rights and equal opportunity documents (RD 400-1 and RD 400-4); a letter stating board authorization to seek the assistance; and a citizenship certification letter as referenced in 7 CFR 1942.307(b). The notice also notes that copies of the governing regulation (7 CFR part 1942, subpart G) could be requested from the State Office, which is important because the scoring criteria and compliance obligations are grounded in those regulations.
For applicants needing help accessing the announcement or navigating the process, the notice directs people to contact the relevant USDA State Office, including a general assistance phone number (1-800-670-6553) and a USDA Rural Development website link for locating state office contacts.
Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program (RBEG) - ARRA Funding (FY 2009-2010) FAQs
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the USDA Rural Development Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program (RBEG), administered through the Agency's Business and Cooperative Programs and delivered primarily through USDA Rural Development State Offices. This notice specifically covers RBEG funding made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), so applicants must meet both standard RBEG requirements and ARRA-specific compliance obligations.
2) What type of award is this?
This opportunity provides grant funding.
3) Is there a match or cost share requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching funds requirement.
4) What fiscal year funding does this notice use and how much funding is available?
The notice references FY 2009 and FY 2010 funds. Total funding listed is $20,000,000.
5) How many awards are expected and what is the typical award size?
The program expected to make roughly 200 awards, with an average award size of about $99,000.
6) When are awards made?
Awards are described as ongoing, meaning funds are awarded as projects are approved and funded rather than on one single fixed award date.
7) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to certain types of organizations that will serve rural areas, primarily public bodies and private nonprofit corporations. Examples listed include states, counties, cities, townships, incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Indian tribes on federal or state reservations, as long as the project benefits qualifying rural communities.
8) Can for-profit businesses apply directly?
The notice describes eligible applicants as certain public bodies and private nonprofit corporations. While the program may support assistance that relates to nonprofit and for-profit organizations in rural areas (for example, through technical assistance or training activities), only eligible entities can apply for the grant under this notice.
9) What is considered a rural area for this program?
For this program, a rural area is generally a city, town, or unincorporated area with a population of 50,000 or less, excluding an urbanized area that is immediately adjacent to a city or area with a population above 50,000.
10) Where do I apply?
Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office where the project will take place. The State Office is also the central point for receiving, reviewing, scoring, and funding applications under the state allocation structure.
11) Can I submit the application by email?
No. The notice states submissions by email are not allowed. Applications must be submitted in paper form to the USDA Rural Development State Office.
12) Do I need a DUNS number to apply?
Yes. Applicants must have a DUNS number (issued by Dun and Bradstreet) before applying.
13) What is the application deadline?
The closing date is flexible. Applications for ARRA funding could be submitted until the allocated funds are depleted or until a later date published during FY 2010, whichever came first. Practically, that means timing matters because applications compete within state allocations and against the pace at which ARRA funds are used up.
14) How does the competition and scoring work?
RBEG awards are competitive and are scored using selection criteria in federal regulation at 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G, along with requirements referenced from section 310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT). Each application is first reviewed for eligibility and alignment with eligible purposes under the statute and regulations, then scored according to the required criteria (including any discretionary points).
15) What happens if my application does not address all selection criteria?
The application must explicitly address each of the stated selection priority criteria in 7 CFR 1942.305(b)(3). If an applicant fails to address any criterion, that criterion receives a zero score, which can significantly reduce the application's competitiveness.
16) How are projects selected for funding?
Within the relevant grant competition and state allocation structure, the highest-scoring project is selected for funding based on the required criteria and any discretionary points, as described in the notice. The State Office handles receiving, reviewing, scoring, and funding applications.
17) Who notifies applicants about award decisions?
Applicants are notified by USDA Rural Development of the award decision.
18) Do I need to identify my project as an ARRA request?
Yes. The notice emphasizes that any project requesting ARRA grant funds must be clearly identified as such at the time of submission. This connects to ARRA tracking and transparency requirements.
19) What additional requirements apply because this is ARRA funding?
Applicants must meet standard RBEG requirements as well as ARRA-specific compliance obligations. For non-construction projects, the notice highlights ARRA reporting requirements. For construction projects, ARRA reporting still applies, and projects must also comply with Davis-Bacon wage rules and Buy America requirements.
20) What ARRA requirements apply to non-construction projects?
For non-construction projects, the notice indicates that ARRA-specific compliance mainly consists of ARRA reporting requirements.
21) What extra ARRA requirements apply to construction projects?
For construction projects, ARRA reporting applies, and projects must also comply with Davis-Bacon wage rules and Buy America requirements.
22) What kinds of activities can RBEG support in rural areas (as described in the notice)?
The notice indicates that assistance supported by RBEG in rural areas can include items such as on-site technical assistance to local and regional governments, public transit agencies, and other related nonprofit and for-profit organizations, as well as development of training materials and delivery of training assistance to local officials and agencies. Proposed activities still must fit within eligible purposes described in the governing statute and regulations, and the State Office review is intended to ensure alignment.
23) What does the initial application review cover?
Each application is reviewed first for eligibility and for alignment with eligible purposes under the statute and regulations before being scored for competitiveness.
24) What happens if my application is incomplete?
The notice states that only eligible entities can apply, and applications that do not include enough information to verify eligibility or that are missing required components will not be considered.
25) What forms and documents are required in the application package?
The notice describes the package as document-heavy and lists required elements, including: SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance); RD 1940-20 (Request for Environmental Information); a scope of work narrative; financial documentation such as an income statement and balance sheet or audits for the previous three years; certifications including AD-1047, AD-1048, and AD-1049 covering debarment/suspension, exclusion, and drug-free workplace requirements; lobbying restrictions; civil rights and equal opportunity documents (RD 400-1 and RD 400-4); a letter stating board authorization to seek the assistance; and a citizenship certification letter as referenced in 7 CFR 1942.307(b).
26) Where do the scoring criteria and compliance obligations come from?
The notice ties selection criteria to 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G (including 7 CFR 1942.305(b)(3)), and references section 310B(c) of CONACT. ARRA-related compliance obligations are also specifically called out (reporting, and for construction, Davis-Bacon and Buy America).
27) Can I get a copy of the governing regulation?
Yes. The notice states that copies of 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G could be requested from the State Office.
28) Why does timing matter if the closing date is flexible?
The notice indicates applications for ARRA funding could be submitted until funds are depleted (or until a later FY 2010 date was published). Because funding is managed through state allocations and made on an ongoing basis, applicants are competing not only on scoring but also against the pace at which each state allocation is used.
29) Who should I contact for help or state office information?
The notice directs applicants to contact the relevant USDA Rural Development State Office. It also provides a general assistance phone number (1-800-670-6553) and references a USDA Rural Development website link for locating state office contacts.
30) What is the role of the USDA Rural Development State Office in this process?
The State Office is described as the central point for receiving, reviewing, scoring, and funding applications under the program's state allocation structure, and it is the office where paper applications must be submitted for projects located in that state.
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