• There are grants available to help those in rural America.agriculture image by Gon?¡ìalo Carreira from Fotolia.com
  
  As people move to urban areas, it has become more difficult to create a business or make money in rural towns. Fortunately, the U.S. government and several other organizations know how important rural America and agriculture are to our society and are working to provide grants for multiple purposes to help bolster this overlooked area of our culture.
  
  

Fund for Rural America

• The USDA is stepping up its efforts to aid small communities through its rural development program. The Fund for Rural America grant is offered to provide funds to support research, education and expansion of rural communities. The main beneficiaries can be farmers, ranchers or individuals who live in a small town that has been adversely affected due to economic or legal problems. The USDA also offers other grants and loans to those who qualify.
  
  USDA Rural Development
  1400 Independence Avenue SW
  Washington, DC 20250-0107
  202-720-4581
  rurdev.usda.gov
  
  

Rural Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development Program

• The Rural Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (REED) program provides grants to individuals trying to start businesses and develop infrastructure in rural areas. The REED program strives to give financial support to encourage sustainable agricultural ventures as well as non-agriculture-related businesses in rural areas. The grant can also go toward educational and technological costs, and is provided by Regional Rural Development Centers.
  
  Northeast Regional Rural Development Center
  10300 Baltimore Avenue
  Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350
  301-504-8655
  nercrd.psu.edu/
  
  

Housing Assistance Council

• The Housing Assistance Council is a group that works to improve the quality of living in homes across America. The HAC offers a Green Homes Grant to qualifying rural homeowners who wish to improve their homes while making them more energy efficient. The HAC provides grant money to help ensure that homes in rural areas are healthy for their occupants and the environment.
  
  Housing Assistance Council
  1025 Vermont Ave., N.W., Suite 606
  Washington, DC 20005
  202-842-8600
  216.92.48.246/index.php
  
  

AgStar Fund for Rural America

• AgStar Financial Services offers a grant through its Fund for Rural America directed toward funding emergency services like fire or ambulance departments in rural areas. Rural emergency services suffer when the economy slows, and the AgStar grant attempts to make up for budget shortfalls in rural America.
  
  AgStar
  1921 Premier Drive
  Mankato, MN 56001
  507-387-4174
  agstar.com