NCBA - National Cooperative Business Association
09/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2025 13:17
Have a question about the RCDG application process? Check out our FAQs
The only federal program dedicated to advancing cooperative businesses, RCDG helps create and sustain vibrant rural communities across the U.S.
On September 4, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the FY2025 Request for Applications (RFA) for its Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program. The RCDG program provides a total of $5.8 million in funding to support the development of rural cooperatives through technical assistance. Eligible applicants must submit their application by 5 p.m. EDT on September 15, 2025.
Given the truncated timeline, NCBA CLUSA has partnered with USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to compile a list of frequently asked questions related to this year's RCDG application process. Please note that we are continuing to work with NIFA to answer your questions and will share an updated version of this document when additional information becomes available.
Download our FAQ
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Application window now open for 2025 Rural Cooperative Development Grant - Due September 15
What's new this year?
While RCDG has historically been administered by Rural Business-Cooperative Service within USDA's Rural Development Mission Area, administration of the program shifted to NIFA after a government-wide review of federal grant programs in January.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the NIFA application process, including the NIFA Grant Application Guide and the program notice on NIFA's website. Our FAQ answers questions about personnel, language ("regional" vs. "multi-regional," "persistent poverty," etc.), sectors, subawards and multi-center applications.
For specific program information, please contact please contact Edwin Lewis, Ph.D., NIFA National Program Leader at [email protected] and Izabella Jablonska, NIFA Program Specialist at [email protected]. And you can always reach NCBA CLUSA's Advocacy Team at [email protected].
NCBA - National Cooperative Business Association published this content on September 09, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 09, 2025 at 19:17 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]