Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP 2012 RCDG
Apply for RDBCP 2012 RCDG
- The Business and Cooperative Programs in the agriculture other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.771 Rural Cooperative Development Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 8, 2012 and posted on Jun 8, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 6, 2012 Complete paper applications must be in the USDA Rural Development State Office by the deadline date, 4 p.m. local time. Electronic applications submitted through Grants.gov will be accepted by the system through midnight eastern time on the deadline date. Late applications will not be considered for FY2012 funding.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,750,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $175,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- You must be a nonprofit corporation or an institution of higher education to apply for this program. Public bodies and individuals are not eligible to apply for the RCDG program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program is a competitive federal grant opportunity designed to strengthen rural economies by helping communities build, grow, or improve rural cooperatives and other rural business entities. Rather than funding individual rural businesses directly, the program funds Rural Cooperative Development Centers, which then deliver hands-on technical assistance to local groups and entrepreneurs. The core idea is that rural areas often need specialized support to organize viable cooperatives, improve operations, and expand into sustainable enterprises, and these centers serve as the on-the-ground providers of that expertise.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP 2012 RCDG) is offered as a discretionary grant within the agriculture funding activity area. For the referenced fiscal year cycle, the program anticipated around 30 awards nationwide, with an estimated total funding amount of about $5,750,000. Individual awards could be as high as $175,000, and the program requires cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants must contribute non-federal resources toward the project alongside the grant funds. The competitive nature of the program implies that applicants are scored against one another and selected based on the strength of their proposed development center activities and expected outcomes for rural communities.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education. Public bodies and individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply. This structure reflects the program model: the federal government supports established organizations that have the capacity to provide sustained technical assistance, training, and development services, rather than making direct grants to for-profit entities or informal groups. Award recipients operate as Rural Cooperative Development Centers and are responsible for delivering services that help rural cooperatives and similar business entities with formation, startup planning, expansion strategies, and operational improvements.
The application window in the cited announcement opened with a posted date of June 8, 2012, and closed on August 6, 2012. Applications could be submitted either electronically through Grants.gov or in paper form, with strict timing rules. Paper applications had to be received by the USDA Rural Development State Office by 4 p.m. local time on the deadline date, while electronic submissions were accepted through midnight Eastern Time on the deadline date. Late applications were not considered for funding in that cycle, underscoring the importance of meeting submission requirements and deadlines.
Administratively, the opportunity is associated with USDA Rural Development, Business and Cooperative Programs, and is tied to CFDA number 10.771 (Rural Cooperative Development Grants). Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement or having program questions were directed to a program contact, Amy Cavanaugh, at 202-720-8460.
Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program FAQs
What is the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program?
The Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program is a competitive federal grant opportunity intended to strengthen rural economies by helping communities build, grow, or improve rural cooperatives and other rural business entities. The program’s model focuses on providing specialized, hands-on technical assistance through Rural Cooperative Development Centers.
Does the RCDG program fund individual rural businesses directly?
No. The program does not fund individual rural businesses directly. Instead, it funds Rural Cooperative Development Centers, which then provide technical assistance and development services to local groups and entrepreneurs.
Who receives the grant funding under this program?
Grant awards are made to eligible organizations that operate as Rural Cooperative Development Centers. These centers are responsible for delivering technical assistance and related services to support rural cooperative and business entity development.
What types of support do Rural Cooperative Development Centers provide?
Based on the opportunity description, funded centers deliver hands-on technical assistance that can include helping rural cooperatives and similar rural business entities with formation, startup planning, expansion strategies, and operational improvements.
What is the main goal or core idea behind the RCDG program?
The core idea is that rural areas often need specialized support to organize viable cooperatives, improve operations, and expand into sustainable enterprises. Rural Cooperative Development Centers serve as on-the-ground providers of that expertise.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is RDBCP 2012 RCDG.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity?
Yes. The RCDG program is described as a competitive federal grant opportunity. Applicants are scored against one another and selected based on the strength of their proposed development center activities and expected outcomes for rural communities.
How many awards were anticipated for the referenced cycle?
For the referenced fiscal year cycle in the announcement, the program anticipated around 30 awards nationwide.
What was the estimated total funding amount for the referenced cycle?
The estimated total program funding amount was about $5,750,000 for the referenced cycle.
What is the maximum individual award amount?
Individual awards could be as high as $175,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The program requires cost sharing or matching. Applicants must contribute non-federal resources toward the project alongside the grant funds.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education.
Who is not eligible to apply?
Public bodies and individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Why does the program limit eligibility to certain organization types?
The opportunity description indicates this structure supports the program model: the federal government funds established organizations with the capacity to provide sustained technical assistance, training, and development services, rather than making direct grants to for-profit entities or informal groups.
When did the application window open and close for this announcement?
The posted date was June 8, 2012, and the closing date was August 6, 2012.
How could applications be submitted?
Applications could be submitted either electronically through Grants.gov or in paper form, subject to the timing rules stated in the announcement.
What was the deadline for paper applications?
Paper applications had to be received by the USDA Rural Development State Office by 4 p.m. local time on the deadline date.
What was the deadline for electronic applications submitted through Grants.gov?
Electronic submissions through Grants.gov were accepted through midnight Eastern Time on the deadline date.
Are late applications accepted?
No. Late applications were not considered for funding in that cycle, according to the announcement description.
Which USDA office or agency is this opportunity associated with?
The opportunity is associated with USDA Rural Development, Business and Cooperative Programs.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is tied to CFDA number 10.771 (Rural Cooperative Development Grants).
What funding activity area is this opportunity listed under?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant within the agriculture funding activity area.
Who can be contacted for program questions or help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants were directed to contact Amy Cavanaugh at 202-720-8460 for program questions or assistance accessing the full announcement.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RDBCP 2012 RCDG) also looked into and applied for these:
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