USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
USDA Rural Development
Via MDO: loans up to $50K
Researched for this program: 5 rejection traps · 7 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Rural microbusiness funding through local nonprofits
USDA program that funds Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) — nonprofit lenders and community development financial institutions — to provide loans and technical assistance to rural microbusinesses with 10 or fewer employees. Individual microbusinesses do NOT apply directly to USDA; they apply through a certified MDO in their state. USDA awards MDOs grants (up to $170,000 for technical assistance) and loan capital ($50K–$500K per MDO), who then relend at reduced rates to rural micro-entrepreneurs.
- Funding type
- Program
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $5,000 – $50,000
- Realistic amount
- Typical microbusiness loan from an MDO ranges $10,000–$35,000 at below-market interest rates. Microenterprise grants (di…
- Deadline
- MDO applications: annual cycle, typically spring NOFO. Microbusiness applications to local MDOs: rolling, varies by MDO. Contact your state USDA Rural Development office for current MDO list and availability.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- advance
Who qualifies
- DIRECT USDA APPLICANTS (MDOs): Must be a nonprofit organization with at least 2 years of experience providing technical assistance to microenterprises in rural areas
- DIRECT USDA APPLICANTS (MDOs): Must demonstrate ability to provide loans and technical assistance to rural microentrepreneurs
- DIRECT USDA APPLICANTS (MDOs): Must serve USDA-defined rural areas; some states require the MDO itself to be headquartered in a rural area
- INDIRECT RECIPIENTS (Microbusinesses): Must be a rural microbusiness with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees
- INDIRECT RECIPIENTS (Microbusinesses): Must be located in a rural area (USDA definition: outside urbanized areas of 50,000+)
- INDIRECT RECIPIENTS (Microbusinesses): Must demonstrate inability to access conventional credit at reasonable rates
- INDIRECT RECIPIENTS (Microbusinesses): Must participate in the MDO's technical assistance program as a condition of receiving a loan
- MDOs receive both loan capital (to relend) and grant funds (for technical assistance delivery); individual businesses receive loans + mentoring from MDO, not direct USDA grants
Hard requirements
- Rural location required
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Working capital for day-to-day business operations (inventory, supplies, payroll)
- Equipment purchases for the microbusiness
- Business expansion costs
- Technical assistance and training fees (covered by grant component, not loan)
- Marketing and advertising expenses
- Professional services (accounting, legal) directly related to business operations
- Micro-inventory purchases for product-based businesses
Ineligible expenses
- Real estate purchase or construction (RMAP is not a real estate lending program)
- Speculative investments
- Debt refinancing of existing loans
- Agricultural production costs (farming operations have separate USDA programs)
- Purchases from related parties at above-market prices
- Costs not directly related to the rural microbusiness operations
How to apply
-
1
Find a participating MDO in your state
Individual microbusinesses do NOT apply to USDA directly. Contact your state's USDA Rural Development office (rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices) to obtain the current list of RMAP-certified MDOs operating in your area. MDOs include CDFIs, community development corporations, and rural nonprofits. This step is the key gateway — availability varies by state.
~2 hrs
-
2
Apply to the local MDO
Each MDO has its own application process, underwriting criteria, and loan terms. Typically you'll need a simple business plan or executive summary, 2 years of personal and business tax returns, bank statements, and a description of how you'll use the funds. MDOs are more flexible than banks — they're designed to work with borrowers who lack traditional credit history.
~10 hrs
-
3
Complete required technical assistance
RMAP loans require participation in the MDO's technical assistance program — typically 4–12 hours of small business training, mentoring, or coaching before or concurrent with loan approval. Topics vary: bookkeeping, marketing, business planning, QuickBooks. This is a legal condition of RMAP funding, not optional.
~8 hrs
-
4
Close loan and begin repayment
MDOs disburse loans directly. Interest rates are below-market (often 4–8%). Repayment terms vary by MDO — typically 12–84 months depending on loan purpose. MDOs report outcome data to USDA annually.
~2 hrs
Most applicants don't realize this is an indirect program — you get a loan from a nonprofit lender, not a grant from USDA. The key is finding an active MDO near you; some states have none. Call your USDA state office first.
Deadline & timing
This is an indirect program — the USDA NOFO is for MDOs (nonprofits), not individual businesses. Microbusiness owners should contact their local USDA Rural Development office to find a participating MDO in their state, then apply to that MDO directly. MDOs set their own intake schedules. The MDO-level NOFO typically opens January–March with spring deadlines. As of May 2026, the FY 2025 MDO NOFO status could not be confirmed; program may be between MDO-funding cycles.
Not accepting applications right now — get one email when it reopens
GrantCompass tracks USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)’s application windows in the live catalog. Leave an email and we’ll tell you the day the next window opens.
Free. One email when the window moves, deadline warnings on your watchlist, and the monthly closing-soon digest. Unsubscribe anytime.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
This program is not taking applications today — these are
Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on August 25, 2026 — all 183 open grant programs · filter the database.
Explore more funding
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.