Opportunity Information: Apply for RD RBCS 26 RMAP
Apply for RD RBCS 26 RMAP
- The Rural Business-Cooperative Service in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.870.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-02-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative Service. It is designed to strengthen very small businesses in rural areas by funding Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) that, in turn, support microentrepreneurs and microloan borrowers through training and technical assistance. In practical terms, the program is aimed at building local capacity so that small, community-based organizations can help rural entrepreneurs start, stabilize, or grow microenterprises by improving business skills, planning, and day-to-day operational know-how.
Under this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: RD RBCS 26 RMAP), the federal government provides loans and grants to eligible MDOs. Those MDOs then use the support to deliver services such as business training and hands-on technical assistance to the end clients: micro entrepreneurs and people who have taken, or are seeking, microloans. The core emphasis is not direct funding to individual businesses through this listing; instead, it funds the organizations that provide the coaching, education, and support systems that help microbusiness owners become more viable borrowers and operators.
Eligible applicants are limited to domestic organizations that fall into one of three categories: non-profit entities, Indian Tribes as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304(e), or public institutions of higher education. The program is categorized under the Business and Commerce funding activity area and is listed under CFDA (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listing) 10.870. The awarding agency is the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, which generally indicates the program is intended to spur rural business development and local economic resilience through structured assistance and capacity building.
Key timing and funding details are straightforward. The original application closing date is June 30, 2026. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $100,000, and the agency anticipates making about 20 awards. The opportunity record was created on February 26, 2026, and the funding instrument type is a grant. Applicants considering this program should expect that proposals will need to clearly describe how the organization functions as an MDO, how it will deliver training and technical assistance to rural microentrepreneurs and microloan borrowers, and how the proposed activities will produce measurable benefits for small businesses and local rural communities.
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) FAQs
1) What is the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)?
The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by USDA Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Service. It is designed to strengthen very small businesses in rural areas by funding Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) that provide training and technical assistance to microentrepreneurs and microloan borrowers.
2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The main purpose is to build local capacity by supporting small, community-based organizations (MDOs) so they can help rural entrepreneurs start, stabilize, or grow microenterprises. The focus is on improving business skills, business planning, and day-to-day operational know-how through structured training and hands-on technical assistance.
3) Is this grant direct funding for individual rural businesses?
No. Based on the description provided, the core emphasis is not direct funding to individual businesses. Instead, the program funds eligible organizations (MDOs) that then deliver coaching, education, and support services to microentrepreneurs and microloan borrowers.
4) Who is the awarding agency for this opportunity?
The awarding agency is the USDA Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS).
5) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this RMAP listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RD RBCS 26 RMAP.
6) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for RMAP?
The program is listed under Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) 10.870.
7) What types of applicants are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to domestic organizations in one of these categories: non-profit entities, Indian Tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304(e)), or public institutions of higher education.
8) Are for-profit businesses eligible to apply as the applicant?
Not under the eligibility categories provided. The eligible applicant types listed are non-profit entities, Indian Tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304(e)), and public institutions of higher education.
9) What is a Microenterprise Development Organization (MDO) in the context of this opportunity?
In this opportunity, an MDO is the type of organization that receives federal support and then provides training and technical assistance to microentrepreneurs and microloan borrowers in rural areas, helping them build skills and operational capacity to run viable microenterprises.
10) What kinds of services are MDOs expected to provide with this funding?
MDOs are expected to provide services such as business training and hands-on technical assistance. The description emphasizes helping end clients improve business skills, planning, and day-to-day operational know-how.
11) Who are the intended end clients or beneficiaries of the program?
The end clients are microentrepreneurs and microloan borrowers, including people who have taken, or are seeking, microloans. The program is intended to improve their readiness and capacity to operate a viable microenterprise and to be stronger borrowers.
12) What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
13) Does the federal government provide only grants under this opportunity?
The description indicates the federal government provides loans and grants to eligible MDOs under this opportunity. However, the funding instrument type listed for the opportunity record is a grant.
14) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $100,000.
15) How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipates making about 20 awards.
16) When is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is June 30, 2026.
17) When was this opportunity record created?
The opportunity record was created on February 26, 2026.
18) What is the funding activity category for this program?
The program is categorized under the Business and Commerce funding activity area.
19) What should applicants be prepared to describe in their proposals?
Applicants should expect proposals to clearly describe how the organization functions as an MDO, how it will deliver training and technical assistance to rural microentrepreneurs and microloan borrowers, and how the proposed activities will produce measurable benefits for small businesses and local rural communities.
20) What outcomes does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes measurable benefits for small businesses and rural communities, achieved through improved business skills, planning, and operational capability among microentrepreneurs and microloan borrowers.
21) How does this program support rural economic resilience?
Based on the description, it supports rural economic resilience by strengthening local organizations that provide structured assistance and capacity building for very small businesses, which in turn supports rural business development.
22) Is this opportunity aimed at building organizational capacity or delivering direct capital to entrepreneurs?
The opportunity is aimed primarily at building organizational capacity through MDOs that deliver training and technical assistance, rather than providing direct funding to individual businesses through this listing.
23) Does the opportunity specify that applicants must be domestic organizations?
Yes. Eligible applicants are limited to domestic organizations within the listed categories.
24) Who should consider applying for this program?
Organizations that qualify as non-profit entities, Indian Tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304(e)), or public institutions of higher education, and that function as (or propose to function as) Microenterprise Development Organizations serving rural microentrepreneurs and microloan borrowers through training and technical assistance.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RD RBCS 26 RMAP) also looked into and applied for these:
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| PROGRAM FOR INVESTMENT IN MICROENTREPRENEURS (PRIME) FY 2026 Apply for SB OCAPR 26 001 Funding Number: SB OCAPR 26 001 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $400,000 |
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