September 3, 2025
Mr. Ricketts (for himself and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to extend and enhance the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Increase in funding for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
Section 379E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)(4), by striking $50,000
and inserting $75,000
;
(2)
in subsection (b)(3), by adding at the end the following:
(E) Use of funds
A microloan made by a microenterprise development organization to a microentrepreneur under this paragraph for a project may be used to cover not more than 50 percent of any demolition, construction, or related costs of real estate improvements under the project.;
(3)
in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking 75 percent
and inserting 100 percent
; and
(4)
in subsection (d), by striking 2019 through 2023
and inserting 2026 through 2030
.