What is RMAP?
RMAP is another USDA Rural Development grant and loan program that was created with the purpose to support the development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises. This program offers the opportunity for Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to receive funding through direct loans or grants to provide loans and technical assistance to rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises.

How much funding has been available?
Each fiscal year, Congress determines the amount of funding available for this program in the Federal Budget. Applicants receiving grants under this program are required to provide a match of at least 15 percent of the total grant amount. This match can be provided in the form of matching funds, indirect costs, or in-kind goods or services.

2015

This year, the total funding for is $16,276,000. Grants under this program have $2,086,000 available and loans have $14,190,000 available. The maximum loan amount is $500,000 and the minimum amount is $50,000.

2014

Total funding for FY 2014 is $25,461,661. Grants are allocated $1,500,000 of this funding and loans have $23,961,661. The maximum loan amount is $500,000 and the minimum amount is $50,000.

2013

Loans and grants for FY 2013 had a total funding of $12,224,613.35. Of this funding, Grants had $1,509,696.97 in funding and loans had $10,714,916.38. Applicants could borrow between $50,000 and $500,000.

How can the funds be used?
The MDOs awarded under the program can use the funds to provide fixed interest rate microloans up to $50,000 to rural microentrepreneurs for startup and growing microenterprises. Eligible activities that can be funded by RMAP loans are:

  • Working capital projects
  • Purchase of furniture, fixtures, supplies, inventory, or equipment
  • Debt financing
  • Business acquisitions
  • Purchase or lease of real estate that is already improved and will be used for the location of the subject business only (no construction is allowed)

MDOs receiving technical assistance grants under the program can also use the funds to provide education, guidance, or instruction to one or more rural microentrepreneurs to:

  • Prepare them for self-employment
  • Improve the state of their existing rural microenterprises
  • Increase their capacity in a specific technical aspect of the subject business
  • Assist a rural microentrepreneur in achieving a degree of business preparednedd and/or functions that will allow them to obtain or have the ability to obtain business loans independently

Who can apply?

To apply under the RMAP, the entity must be a Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDO). These entities can be non-profit organizations, Indian tribes, and public institutions that offer training and technical assistance, microloans or facilitate access to capital or another related service to rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises, or have demonstrated a record of delivering or a plan to develop a program to deliver such services.

For more information, visit the USDA’s website.