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Intermediary Relending Program.

USDA lends at low interest to eligible local intermediaries, which operate revolving loan funds for rural businesses and community-development projects.

Offered byUSDA Rural Business-Cooperative Serviceverified 2026-07-10

Overview

What it does.

A Chester business does not borrow from USDA. It must locate a participating intermediary serving Randolph County and qualify under that intermediary's loan terms; eligible organizations can separately seek USDA capital to establish or expand an IRP fund.

Best for: Rural projects that need gap financing through a local revolving-loan intermediary rather than a conventional bank alone.

Eligibility

Who and what may qualify.

Eligible applicants

  • Eligible nonprofits, cooperatives, tribes, and public agencies as intermediary borrowers
  • Individuals and public or private organizations as eligible ultimate recipients through a participating intermediary

Applicants excluded by the source

  • Businesses applying directly to USDA for an ultimate-recipient loan
  • Ultimate recipients able to obtain adequate conventional financing

Eligible uses

  • Establishing or expanding a business
  • Community-development projects
  • Facilities and equipment
  • Job creation and retention
  • Microlending and revolving-loan activity

Uses excluded by the source

  • Projects outside eligible rural service areas
  • Uses prohibited by 7 CFR part 4274 or the intermediary's loan policies

Application

How to start.

  1. Ask USDA Rural Development Illinois which IRP intermediaries serve Randolph County
  2. Contact the intermediary and review its local underwriting and eligible-use rules
  3. If establishing a fund, contact the state office before the next federal quarterly deadline

Timing: The FY2026 NOFO lists quarterly intermediary deadlines, including September 30, 2026; ultimate-recipient timing depends on local fund availability.

Planning notes

Limits to account for.

  • Local business access exists only if a participating intermediary serves the area and has funds
  • Ultimate-recipient rates and underwriting are locally set
  • Intermediaries, not businesses, apply to USDA

Designed as gap or revolving financing and may complement conventional or public financing subject to intermediary rules.

Evidence

Official sources.