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

# §2009cc–7. Operational assistance grants

- (a) **In general—** In accordance with this section, the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may make grants to [rural business investment companies](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) and to other entities, as authorized by this subchapter, to provide [operational assistance](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=9) to [smaller enterprises](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=15) financed, or expected to be financed, by the entities.
- (b) **Terms—** Grants made under this section shall be made over a multiyear period (not to exceed 10 years) under such terms as the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may require.
- (c) **Use of funds—** The proceeds of a grant made under this section may be used by the [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) receiving the grant only to provide [operational assistance](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=9) in connection with an equity or prospective equity investment in a business located in a [rural area](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A).
- (d) **Submission of plans—** A [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) shall be eligible for a grant under this section only if the [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) submits to the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2), in such form and manner as the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may require, a plan for use of the grant.
- (e) **Grant amount—**
  - (1) **Rural business investment companies—** The amount of a grant made under this section to a [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) shall be equal to the lesser of—
    - (A) 10 percent of the [private capital](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=11-A) raised by the [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14); or
    - (B) $1,000,000.
  - (2) **Other entities—** The amount of a grant made under this section to any entity other than a [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) shall be equal to the resources (in cash or in kind) raised by the entity in accordance with the requirements applicable to [rural business investment companies](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) under this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 384H, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6029, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 395.)