HILO, Hawaii (USDA) — Lorraine P. Shin, state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development, has announced the availability of funding for the rural business enterprise grant program.  
The grants are available to eligible public bodies, private nonprofit corporations, and federally recognized Indian tribal groups to finance and facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises located in any area other than a city or town that has a population of more than 50,000 and the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town. 
The program funds may be used for technical assistance — providing assistance for marketing studies, feasibility studies, business plans, training, etc. — to small and emerging businesses, purchasing machinery and equipment to lease to a small and emerging business, creating a revolving loan fund — providing partial funding as a loan to a small and emerging business for the purchase of equipment, working capital, or real estate — or construct a building for a business incubator for a small and emerging business.
For more information about the rural business enterprise grants visit USDA Rural Development’s Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbeg.htm 
Applications must be received in the USDA Rural Development State Office, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Suite 311, Hilo, HI 96720 by May 29 for consideration. 
If you are interested in applying for rural business enterprise grant funding, contact 808-933-8312, 808-933-8323, 808-933-8318 or 808-483-8600, ext. 118.