Increases communities' access to locally and regionally produced food and agricultural products by developing, coordinating, and expanding direct producer-to-consumer operations and activities, such as domestic farmer's markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, agritourism activities, online sales, or other market opportunities. Builds organizational capacity and provides outreach, training, and technical assistance in order to help producers achieve a greater impact on local and regional food systems.

Develops, coordinates, and expands local and regional food business enterprises that function as intermediaries for indirect producer-to-consumer marketing with the goal of making local and regional agricultural products more available and accessible to communities. Supports both planning and implementation activities to establish, improve, or expand local or regional food businesses. Assists businesses through feasibility studies, market research, training, and technical assistance to strengthen food system infrastructure and increase sales of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.

Provides technical assistance to socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas, whose members have experienced racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity. Funds cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers that offer various types of technical assistance, including feasibility studies, business plans, strategic planning, and leadership training, among others.

Offers grants and zero-interest loans to local utility organizations who provide funding options for local businesses. Supports economic development in rural areas by funding projects designed to create or preserve job opportunities.

Provides microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) with loans and grants to help establish and expand microenterprises through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund. Helps microloan borrowers and microentrepreneurs receive training and technical assistance.

Seeks to improve economic development, create employment opportunities, and reduce poverty in rural areas, especially disadvantaged and isolated communities. Offers 1% low-interest loans to local lenders known as intermediaries, that then re-lend funds to businesses in rural communities to foster community development.

Provides loan funds to farmers and ranchers who are in their first 10 years of operation to assist them in establishing prosperous and competitive farms and ranches. Helps new farmers and ranchers finance normal operating expenses, purchase land and capital, access new markets and marketing opportunities, diversify operations, pay family living expenses, and more. Funding can be accessed through one of the following four USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs: Farm Operating Loans, Farm Ownership Loans, Guaranteed Farm Loans, and Microloans Programs.

Offers programs to guarantee loans to rural businesses to increase access to business capital and improve rural economies. Allows commercial lenders to offer affordable financing to rural businesses to support business operations and create or preserve employment opportunities.

Supports the planning and implementation of economic development and revitalization projects in areas facing economic disruption and hardship, including rural and American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities. Helps communities attract investment, create and retain new businesses and jobs, provide job training and education opportunities for dislocated workers, and enhance technology and infrastructure.

Offers microloans focused on the credit needs of small and beginning, niche and non-traditional farm operations, including truck farms, hydroponic, aquaponic, and organic producers, as well as direct marketing and sales through farmer's markets, community-supported agriculture, restaurants, and grocery stores. Loans may be used to make a down payment on a farm; build, repair, or improve farm buildings and facilities; purchase livestock, seed, and fertilizer; pay land rents, utilities, family living expenses, and other costs essential to starting and maintaining successful farm operations.

Provides loan funds to historically underserved farmers and ranchers through all of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs. Funds from each loan program are set aside to specifically target farmers and ranchers who are women, African Americans, Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Hispanic, Asian, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Eligible FSA loan programs include Guaranteed Farm Loans, Farm Operating Loans, Farm Ownership Loans, and Microloan Programs.

Provides licenses to newly formed, for-profit entities to operate as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC). RBICs make equity capital investments in small, rural enterprises that may otherwise have difficulty accessing venture capital. Seeks to develop economies, create wealth, and increase job opportunities for people living in rural communities.

Assists small businesses in securing loans to support their business operations. Provides financial guarantees and sets guidelines for lenders in order to make loans easier to access for eligible businesses. Loans can be used to pay for long-term fixed assets, such as real estate, equipment, machinery, construction, and remodeling, or as working capital for seasonal financing, revolving credit, export loans, and refinancing debt.

Funds economic revitalization projects in the Appalachian region focused on building businesses, workforce ecosystems, infrastructure, culture and tourism, and leadership capacity to meet Appalachian Regional Commission's strategic investment goals. Gives priority to investments for building a competitive workforce, fostering entrepreneurial activities, developing industry clusters, and broadband initiatives.

Funds for American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages to support projects for housing, community facilities, and economic development. Helps communities provide funding to improve housing, suitable living environments, and economic opportunities primarily for persons with low and moderate income. Offers 2 types of funds, Single-Purpose grants and Imminent Threat grants. Imminent Threat grants are available to address urgent public health or safety threats, including those related to alcohol and substance use.

Funds technology-based economic development initiatives that promote job growth, innovation, economic opportunity, global competitiveness, and the development of future industry-leading companies in regions across the U.S. Aims to help startups and companies access investment capital, grow their companies, empower entrepreneurs, and commercialize new technology. Projects are intended to benefit underserved populations and communities, including rural areas.