SBA celebrates rural small businesses

America’s rural small businesses play an integral role in local economies, often serving as the economic engine for rural communities. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides counseling, training, and other resources to help rural entrepreneurs scale up and create jobs.

According to the U.S. Census, some 60 million people, or one in five Americans, live in rural areas. Self-employment is generally higher in less populated parts of the country compared to the cities and suburbs. However, rural small business owners often face greater challenges in accessing funding, employees, and digital technology. The SBA Office of Advocacy report Bank Lending to Rural vs. Urban Firms in the United States, 2007-2016 highlights the unique challenges that rural small businesses face in access to financing.

SBA has 68 field offices in all 50 states and U.S. territories serving as the agency’s primary contacts for delivering SBA programs directly to rural communities, businesses, and stakeholders. Explore resources from our partners designed to help rural small businesses grow and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic:

• SBA resources for rural small businesses
• USDA Rural Development business programs
• Rural Opportunity Zones and HUBZones
• Resources for rural entrepreneurs at score.org

SBA regularly hosts rural outreach webinars and other online training events on a variety of topics for the new or seasoned small business owner.

If you have questions about SBA’s programs and services, contact your nearest SBA District Office. SBA District Offices offer counseling, training, and business development.