Rural Business-Cooperative Service
2026-10-01 · Rule
Unleashing American Energy and Economic Prosperity; Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
Official abstract: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or the Agency), an agency of the Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a final rule with comment period. Implementation of this action will simplify and streamline requirements and processes in the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Under the new REAP structure, projects must already be fully built and operational before the applicant ever applies. Applicants then apply, submitting actual energy production or savings data for the prior 12 months, alongside 12 months of pre-installation data. The Agency evaluates applications for completeness, eligibility, risk, and merit and will award grants subject to the availability of funds and criteria provided in an annual notice. This new approach changes the program to a post completion, performance validated model. All RES and EEI awards will now be based on actual documented output, energy savings, costs, and system performance. Bottlenecks leading to application processing backlogs such as the technical merit review clearance process have been removed from the Agency's purview. Multilocation projects and specific application of certain technologies are now ineligible, and the program proposes to eliminate state level competitions in favor of a single national scoring and selection process. The result is a streamlined but significantly different process intended to reduce risk to the program, simplify administration, and prioritize projects delivering verifiable results. The result of these changes, combined with the release of a planned online application portal, will significantly decrease burden for applicants by shortening application length and review times across the program.
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2026-09-10 · Notice
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration (AIC) Program 2026
Official abstract: The Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBCS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the acceptance of Applications for the Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration (AIC) Program for fiscal year (FY) 2026. In future years this funding opportunity will only be announced on the Agency website and grants.gov, without a Federal Register notice. Therefore, in future years, neither the funding opportunity nor reference to the funding opportunity in grants.gov will appear in the Federal Register. Please make note of this change in location of the funding announcement in your records.
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2026-09-04 · Notice
Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection: OMB No. 0570-0069 Rural Development Loan Modernization Initiative
Official abstract: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Rural Business- Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service intention to request a revision to a currently approved information collection for the "Rural Development (RD) Loan Modernization Initiative."
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2026-08-19 · Proposed Rule
Rescission of Rural Development's Construction and Repair Regulation
Official abstract: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS), together make up the Rural Development (RD or the Agency) mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). RD is issuing this proposed rule to rescind its regulation regarding construction and repairs. RD found this regulation to be unnecessary and unduly burdensome. In addition, it makes changes to RBCS regulations by removing references to the construction and repair regulations. The plain language summary of the proposal is available on Regulations.gov in the docket for rulemaking.
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2026-07-09 · Rule
Revisions to the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Loan Program
Official abstract: The Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Program (also referred to as the Section 9003 program) provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies. These technologies are: advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products. Collectively, Rural Development's guaranteed loan programs assist in building and maintaining sustainable rural communities. This final rule incorporates revisions intended to clarify, improve, and enhance the delivery of the loan guarantee program.
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2026-06-18 · Notice
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Intermediary Relending Program for Fiscal Year 2026
Official abstract: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to announce acceptance of loan applications under the Intermediary Relending Program (IRP). In future years, this funding opportunity will only be announced on the Agency website without a Federal Register notice. Therefore, in future years, neither the funding opportunity nor reference to the funding opportunity will appear in the Federal Register. Please make note of this change in location of the funding announcement in your records.
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2026-05-26 · Notice
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Business Developmental Grants-Rural Transportation System for Fiscal Year 2026
Official abstract: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to announce acceptance of applications for passenger Rural Transportation systems under the Rural Business Developmental grant program for fiscal year (FY) 2026. In future years this funding opportunity will only be announced on the Agency website and grants.gov, without a Federal Register notice. Therefore, in future years, neither the funding opportunity nor reference to the funding opportunity in grants.gov will appear in the Federal Register. Please make a note of this change in location of the funding announcement in your records.
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2026-05-21 · Notice
Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection; Comments Request; Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program
Official abstract: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBCS or Agency), an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, intention to request an extension of a currently approved information collection package for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). The MPPEP promotes competition and gives more and better options to producers by increasing meat and poultry processing capacity.
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2026-05-15 · Notice
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Business Developmental Grants for Fiscal Year 2026
Official abstract: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to announce acceptance of applications under the Rural Business Developmental grant program for fiscal year (FY) 2026. In future years this funding opportunity will only be announced on the Agency website and grants.gov, without a Federal Register notice. Therefore, in future years, neither the funding opportunity nor reference to the funding opportunity in grants.gov will appear in the Federal Register. Please make a note of this change in location of the funding announcement in your records.
Read the original on FederalRegister.gov →