---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2009cc–1"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2009cc–1"
heading: "Purposes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2009cc-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Agricultural Credit"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Rural Business Investment Program"
---

# §2009cc–1. Purposes


The purposes of the [Rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) Business Investment Program established under this subchapter are—

- (1) to promote economic development and the creation of wealth and job opportunities in [rural areas](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) and among individuals living in those areas by encouraging [developmental capital](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=2) investments in [smaller enterprises](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=15) primarily located in [rural areas](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A); and
- (2) to establish a [developmental capital](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=2) program, with the mission of addressing the unmet equity investment needs of small enterprises located in [rural areas](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A), by authorizing the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2)—
  - (A) to enter into [participation agreements](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=10) with [rural business investment companies](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14);
  - (B) to guarantee debentures of [rural business investment companies](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) to enable each [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) to make [developmental capital](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=2) investments in [smaller enterprises](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=15) in [rural areas](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A); and
  - (C) to make grants to [rural business investment companies](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14), and to other entities, for the purpose of providing [operational assistance](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=9) to [smaller enterprises](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=15) financed, or expected to be financed, by [rural business investment companies](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 384B, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6029, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 391; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6426(b), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4770.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

Par. (1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 6426(b)(1), struck out “venture” before “capital investments”.

Par. (2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 6426(b)(2)(A), struck out “venture” before “capital program” in introductory provisions.

Par. (2)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 6426(b)(2)(B), struck out “venture” before “capital investments”.