USDA Rural Development-Oregon (RD-Oregon) is now seeking concept papers under the
following programs:
1. RBEG (Rural Business Enterprise Grant) - for General, rural projects
2. RBEG (Rural Business Enterprise Grant) - for Native-American, rural projects
3. RBOG (Rural Business Opportunity Grant) - for General, rural projects
4. RBOG (Rural Business Opportunity Grant) - for Native-American, rural projects
NOTE: These grants are made to nonprofits, public bodies, and tribes to support rural business development. They are NOT direct grants to individuals or for-profit businesses.
>> RBEG or RBOG?
RBEG is a much less competitive grant program (though with small award amounts). It is focused on more localized projects that will benefit specifically-identifiable, small businesses rather than broader, strategic economic development work. For information about RBEG program, see:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbeg.htm
RBOG is a much more competitive grant program - typically limited to only one $50,000 award in Oregon. It is focused on broader, strategic economic development work rather than the specific-business-focused projects supported by RBEG. For information about RBOG, see
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbog.htm
>> GENERAL or NATIVE-AMERICAN?
General RBEG and RBOG funds are targeted broadly to assist most categories of rural business. ("Rural" means outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas.)
At the same time, USDA Rural Development sets aside some of its RBEG and RBOG funds in a national pool exclusively for Native American-focused projects. Such projects typically direct at least 75% of their benefits to members of a Federally Recognized Native American Tribe.
>> A CONCEPT PAPER IS REQUESTED:
Since we expect to receive many more RBEG and RBOG proposals (whether General or Native American) than we can fund, instead of seeking full, detailed applications, we are only seeking a brief "concept paper" from prospective applicants. This will save everyone time and effort while still allowing USDA to survey the field of candidate projects.
You can find the "concept paper" format and further details on each of these program opportunities here:
RBEG-General: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbeg.htm
RBEG-Native American: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbeg.htm
RBOG-General: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbog.htm
RBOG-Native American: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbog.htm
>> DEADLINE!
Please follow the guidance provided at the above links, and submit a concept paper to RD-Oregon by MARCH 5, 2010.
>> QUESTIONS?
If you have questions or concerns, please contact anyone on Oregon's Business & Cooperative Programs staff. Our contact information is on-line at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/bizcontact.htm
Thanks for your efforts in Oregon rural business development. We look forward to working with you on your innovative proposals!
jeff
Jeff Deiss, Business & Cooperative Program Director
USDA Rural Development, Oregon State Office
1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Ste. 801, Portland, OR 97232-1274jeff.deiss@or.usda.gov
503-414-3367 phone; 503-414-3397 fax
Visit our web site, http://www.ruralOregon.biz
For energy programs, http://energy.ruralOregon.biz
1. RBEG (Rural Business Enterprise Grant) - for General, rural projects
2. RBEG (Rural Business Enterprise Grant) - for Native-American, rural projects
3. RBOG (Rural Business Opportunity Grant) - for General, rural projects
4. RBOG (Rural Business Opportunity Grant) - for Native-American, rural projects
NOTE: These grants are made to nonprofits, public bodies, and tribes to support rural business development. They are NOT direct grants to individuals or for-profit businesses.
>> RBEG or RBOG?
RBEG is a much less competitive grant program (though with small award amounts). It is focused on more localized projects that will benefit specifically-identifiable, small businesses rather than broader, strategic economic development work. For information about RBEG program, see:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbeg.htm
RBOG is a much more competitive grant program - typically limited to only one $50,000 award in Oregon. It is focused on broader, strategic economic development work rather than the specific-business-focused projects supported by RBEG. For information about RBOG, see
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbog.htm
>> GENERAL or NATIVE-AMERICAN?
General RBEG and RBOG funds are targeted broadly to assist most categories of rural business. ("Rural" means outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas.)
At the same time, USDA Rural Development sets aside some of its RBEG and RBOG funds in a national pool exclusively for Native American-focused projects. Such projects typically direct at least 75% of their benefits to members of a Federally Recognized Native American Tribe.
>> A CONCEPT PAPER IS REQUESTED:
Since we expect to receive many more RBEG and RBOG proposals (whether General or Native American) than we can fund, instead of seeking full, detailed applications, we are only seeking a brief "concept paper" from prospective applicants. This will save everyone time and effort while still allowing USDA to survey the field of candidate projects.
You can find the "concept paper" format and further details on each of these program opportunities here:
RBEG-General: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbeg.htm
RBEG-Native American: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbeg.htm
RBOG-General: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbog.htm
RBOG-Native American: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbog.htm
>> DEADLINE!
Please follow the guidance provided at the above links, and submit a concept paper to RD-Oregon by MARCH 5, 2010.
>> QUESTIONS?
If you have questions or concerns, please contact anyone on Oregon's Business & Cooperative Programs staff. Our contact information is on-line at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/bizcontact.htm
Thanks for your efforts in Oregon rural business development. We look forward to working with you on your innovative proposals!
jeff
Jeff Deiss, Business & Cooperative Program Director
USDA Rural Development, Oregon State Office
1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Ste. 801, Portland, OR 97232-1274jeff.deiss@or.usda.gov
503-414-3367 phone; 503-414-3397 fax
Visit our web site, http://www.ruralOregon.biz
For energy programs, http://energy.ruralOregon.biz