Educational Opportunities

USDA Rural Development Executive Overview — USDA Rural Development provides an executive overview of its programs and mission. Focusing exclusively on America, Rural Development offers loans and grants to eligible individuals, businesses, and communities, to encourage homeownership, growth in business and manufacturing, and community well-being. Rural Development also partners with private lenders to offer loan guarantees, […]

Resources and Tools BioPreferred Program to Implement New “Streamlining” Rule This new rule simplifies key processes, enabling the BioPreferred® Program (formally known as the Biobased Markets Program) to respond more quickly to consumer demand for biobased products and boost Catalog integrity. Changes include merging guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement and the Voluntary

Events / Learning   1/9/2025 | Virtual: OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative – Disaster Response and Recovery Activities USDA Rural Development offers this opportunity to engage in a conversation focused on Disaster Recovery and Recovery Activities. USDA cut red tape to increase private investment in rural communities across the country by making it easier for lenders

11/19 | Virtual: Finding Your Way Through USDA’s NEW Rural Health Resources – USDA RD offers this exciting learning experience and unveils their NEW health resources in celebration of National Rural Health Day! Please join us!   11/19 | Virtual: How Federal Funds are Being Used to Support Rural Communities – This webinar will explore real-world

10/29-30 | Tysons, VA: 2024 SNAP Employment & Training National Forum 11/5–11/21 | Virtual: Placemaking: Making It Happen Training by Project for Public Spaces   11/17-23 | Virtual: 10th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 11/28 | Virtual: Prospect like a pro: Advanced tips for fundraisers. Candid Learning, Foundation Directory 12/3-5 | Austin, TX: America’s Seed

Events / Learning   10/28-31 | Marksville, Arkansas: American Indigenous Tourism Conference (AITC) 10/29 | Virtual: Cooperative Ecosystems: Transformations in Worker Ownership, Housing, Community Development, and Agriculture– Presented by USDA Rural Development. Stakeholder Announcement 11/17-23 | Virtual: 10th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 11/28 | Virtual: Prospect like a pro: Advanced tips for fundraisers. Candid

Resources and Tools   USDA RD Featured Success Story Partnering to Forge a Better Future for the People of Brunswick County (Virginia)Brunswick native, Alfreda Jarrett Reynolds, has a personal stake in helping her community grow. As the county’s Director of Economic Development, it is her mission to help revitalize and restore Brunswick County.…In an effort

Events / Learning Recorded: Path to Prosperity OverviewThe U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Small Business Administration and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, hosted a series of regional economic development workshops on the “Path to Prosperity” in States and Territories across the country to provide small businesses the resources and tools they need to

Resources  Climate-Smart SolutionsLeading the Charge: How USDA Rural Development (RD) Supports Climate Smart Solutions for Schools USDA RD is in a unique position to make climate-smart investments in rural infrastructure. This fact sheet is filled with avenues to support climate-smart schools. Contact your state-based RD energy coordinator to learn more.   IRA Pocket GuidesUSDA RD developed Inflation Reduction