The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Rural Prosperity is accepting Letters of Intent for the 2027 Rural Development Fund, Category 1: Community and Business Development. The program provides competitive financial assistance for eligible projects that strengthen rural Michigan infrastructure, community facilities, workforce capacity and land-based industries. The LOI opened October 1, 2026 and must be submitted by November 2, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, as confirmed by the state’s October 2 announcement.
Applicant funding: Eligible projects may request up to $100,000, with no stated minimum. The total 2027 Rural Development Fund program pool is approximately $4,000,000 across both categories, not a Category 1 individual award. Applicants must document a minimum 20% match of the amount requested, which may be cash, in-kind or both; a $100,000 request therefore requires at least $20,000 in eligible matching support.
Eligibility and scope: Eligible applicants include individuals, nonprofits, businesses, local governments, federally recognized Tribes, schools, colleges, universities, regional planning agencies and workforce/economic-development organizations, for projects located in or directly serving eligible rural Michigan communities. Projects may involve infrastructure and community facilities, housing, public health and food access, childcare, transportation, workforce or business development, or plans and capacity-building tied to rural community and land-based industry sustainability. Preference is given to projects benefiting the Upper Peninsula. State agencies are not eligible; specific telecommunications-facility exclusions also apply under the guidelines.
Application and compliance: First complete the official Letter of Intent through the Michigan ORP online JotForm; only selected LOIs will be invited to submit a full application through EGrAMS, currently scheduled to open December 2, 2026, with the full application due January 13, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. (the guideline does not state a time zone for this later deadline). A lead applicant may submit only one LOI and application across both categories during the funding round. The invited full application requires a project budget, at least three letters of support, documented match and other requested records. Reimbursement is available after documented eligible project expenditures; routine operating expenses are excluded, and periodic progress and financial reports are required.
Official documents and next step: Read the 2027 Rural Development Fund Guidelines, official FAQ and LOI template from the Michigan ORP grant page. Verify your project’s rural designation, assemble the proposed match and submit the required LOI by November 2, 2026. This is an applicant financial-assistance grant, not a government procurement contract. Source reviewed October 18, 2026.