Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP SDGG 2015
Apply for RDBCP SDGG 2015
- The Business and Cooperative Programs in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.871 Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 21, 2015 and posted on May 21, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 14, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 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 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Cooperatives, Groups of Cooperatives, Cooperative Development Centers that serve socially disadvantaged groups.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) is a competitive federal grant opportunity offered through the USDA Rural Development system, specifically the Rural Business-Cooperative Service under its Business and Cooperative Programs. For fiscal year 2015, the program made a total of $3,000,000 available to support projects that deliver technical assistance to socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas. This funding was authorized under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235). The SDGG program was previously known as the Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant program, and the updated name reflects the broader intent to strengthen community-based economic participation through cooperative approaches.
The core purpose of this grant is to help eligible organizations provide hands-on technical assistance that improves the capacity, viability, and success of socially disadvantaged groups in rural communities. While the announcement does not itemize every possible activity in the text provided, the program focus is clear: applicants are expected to propose practical, outcomes-oriented support that helps targeted groups develop, strengthen, or effectively participate in cooperative and business-related efforts. The agency also signaled a strong policy priority for where this assistance should be targeted. Applications were encouraged, and implicitly scored favorably, when they directed grant-supported projects to census tracts with poverty rates at or above 20 percent. That emphasis aligns with Rural Development's stated mission to improve quality of life in rural America and to steer limited resources toward communities with the highest levels of need.
Awards under this opportunity were issued as grants (not loans or contracts) and fell under the Business and Commerce funding activity category. USDA anticipated making about 20 awards from the overall funding pool. Individual awards could be as large as $175,000, and the minimum award amount was not set (listed as $0, meaning there was no stated floor). Importantly for budgeting and applicant readiness, there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which typically lowers barriers for smaller organizations and development centers that may not have substantial non-federal funds available.
Eligibility was limited to organizations positioned to serve socially disadvantaged groups through cooperative development. The eligible applicant types named in the notice were cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers, specifically those that serve socially disadvantaged groups. In the source listing this appeared under an "Others" category with clarification in the eligibility text, meaning applicants needed to fit those cooperative-based definitions rather than being open to the general public, private businesses broadly, or individuals. The funding opportunity was cataloged under CFDA number 10.871 (Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant), which is useful for applicants searching for compliance requirements, historical award patterns, or related USDA funding streams.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted on May 21, 2015, with the application deadline set for July 14, 2015, and an archive date of August 13, 2015. The funding opportunity number was RDBCP-SDGG-2015, and the official title was Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant. Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact Melinda Martin by phone at (202) 690-1376, with the notice indicating an email contact as well, though the address is not shown in the provided text.
Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) (FY 2015) - FAQs
What is the Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG)?
The Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered through USDA Rural Development, specifically the Rural Business-Cooperative Service under its Business and Cooperative Programs. It supports projects that provide technical assistance to socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas.
Which USDA office administers this grant?
The opportunity is offered through USDA Rural Development, via the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), within its Business and Cooperative Programs.
What is the purpose of the SDGG program?
The program funds eligible organizations to deliver hands-on, practical technical assistance intended to improve the capacity, viability, and success of socially disadvantaged groups in rural communities, especially in ways connected to cooperative and business-related efforts.
What types of activities are expected to be supported?
Based on the description provided, projects are expected to be outcomes-oriented and focused on technical assistance that helps targeted groups develop, strengthen, or effectively participate in cooperative and business-related efforts. The text provided does not list a complete menu of eligible activities.
Is this opportunity a grant, loan, or contract?
Awards under this opportunity are issued as grants (not loans or contracts).
What is the funding category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed as Business and Commerce.
How much total funding was available for FY 2015?
For fiscal year 2015, the program made a total of $3,000,000 available.
How many awards did USDA expect to make?
USDA anticipated making about 20 awards from the available funding pool.
What is the maximum award amount?
An individual award could be as large as $175,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount was specified. The minimum was listed as $0, meaning there was no stated floor in the notice information provided.
Is a cost share or match required?
No. The opportunity stated that there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers that serve socially disadvantaged groups. The notice language indicates applicants must fit these cooperative-based categories rather than being open to the general public, private businesses broadly, or individuals.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. The eligibility language provided is limited to cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers serving socially disadvantaged groups.
Are private businesses generally eligible to apply?
The information provided does not indicate broad eligibility for private businesses. Eligibility is described as limited to cooperative-related entities (cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers) serving socially disadvantaged groups.
Does the program focus on rural areas?
Yes. The grant is intended to support technical assistance for socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas.
Is there a priority for serving high-poverty communities?
Yes. The agency encouraged (and implied favorable scoring for) applications that direct grant-supported projects to census tracts with poverty rates at or above 20 percent.
What does the 20 percent poverty emphasis refer to?
It refers to directing project activities to census tracts where the poverty rate is 20 percent or higher. The provided text indicates USDA encouraged applications targeting those areas.
What was the program previously called?
The SDGG program was previously known as the Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant program. The updated name reflects a broader intent to strengthen community-based economic participation through cooperative approaches.
What law authorized the FY 2015 funding?
The FY 2015 funding was authorized under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is cataloged under CFDA number 10.871 (Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RDBCP-SDGG-2015.
What was the official opportunity title?
The official title was Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 21, 2015.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was July 14, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was August 13, 2015.
Who can applicants contact for help with the full announcement?
Applicants were directed to contact Melinda Martin by phone at (202) 690-1376. The notice also indicated an email contact exists, but the email address is not shown in the provided text.
Is an email contact provided in the information shown?
No. The text mentions that an email contact was indicated, but the actual email address is not included in the information provided.
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