Business & Cooperative Programs

Business assisted by USDA Rural Development

Business Programs works in partnership with the private sector and the community-based organizations to provide financial assistance and business planning. Recipients may include individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, public bodies, nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes, and private companies. Visit the following site for a complete overview: Business Programs.

Cooperatives are a cornerstone of business development in rural communities, and can provide residents with new job opportunities, enhanced educational and health care services, and products which enable them to compete in todays global marketplace. Cooperative Programs provide assistance for rural residents interested in forming new cooperatives and administers programs that fund value-added producer grants, rural cooperative development centers, and small socially-disadvantaged producers. Visit the following site for a complete overview: Cooperative Programs

California Highlights

2012 Investments
B&I Guaranteed Loans	$101.3 million
Intermediary Relending	$800,000
Energy Programs	$2.2 million
RBEG	$936,143
RBOG	$74,500
VAPG	$2.7 million

Content Divider

Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Program Information

A variety of documents for the Business & Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan program are listed below for your convenience.

• California Eligible Areas

• Processing Guide and Application Checklist

• Business Plan

• Priority Scoring System

• Primer Basics

• Lender Servicing Responsibilities

Links to Regulations

• RD Instruction 4279-A, Guaranteed Loan Making - General

• RD Instruction 4279-B, Guaranteed Loan Making - B&I

• RD Instruction 4287-B, Guaranteed Loan Making - Servicing

• Form 4279-1, Application for Guaranteed Loan

Content Divider

Business Grant Programs Information

Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG)

• More information on the VAPG program, including application procedures, can be found here.

Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG)

• The notice of funding availability for the RBOG program can be found here.

Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG)

• More information on the RBEG program can be found here.

• RD Instruction 1942-G

• CA Pre-Application Guide

• RBEG Quick Reference Guide

Content Divider

Energy Programs Information

For more information on Rural Development's Energy Programs, including application procedures, click here.

Content Divider

Business & Cooperative Programs Contacts

Chuck Clendenin, Program Director
430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 95616
Phone: (530) 792-5825 | Fax: (530) 792-5838
chuck.clendenin@ca.usda.gov

Karen Firestein, Specialist
Business Grants & Cooperative Programs
430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 95616
Phone: (530) 792-5829 | Fax: (530) 792-5838
karen.firestein@ca.usda.gov

Steven Nicholls, Specialist
Energy Programs
430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 95616
Phone: (530) 792-5805 | Fax: (530) 792-5838
steven.nicholls@ca.usda.gov

Larry Strong, Specialist
Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Program
251 Auburn Ravine Rd. Ste. 107, Auburn, CA 95603
Phone: (530) 885-7081 x114 | Fax: (530) 823-5504
larry.strong@ca.usda.gov

Lee Takikawa, Specialist
Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Program
4625 W. Jennifer, Ste. 126, Fresno, CA 93722-6424
Phone: (559) 276-7494x134 | Fax: (559) 276-1791
lee.takikawa@ca.usda.gov

Maretta Siatunuu, Technician
430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 95616
Phone: (530) 792-5801 | Fax: (530) 792-5838
maretta.siatunuu@ca.usda.gov