USDA Rural Development currently lists the Business & Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program as open. Eligible lenders may submit applications on an ongoing October 1–September 30 cycle for loans to qualifying rural businesses.
Healthcare and rural-access relevance
The program can finance rural business conversion, enlargement, repair, modernization or development, as well as land, buildings, infrastructure, machinery and equipment. Borrowers may include for-profit or nonprofit businesses, cooperatives, federally recognized Tribes, public bodies and individuals engaged in business. For a healthcare project, that creates a legitimate financing path for qualifying rural hospitals, clinics, healthcare businesses and related service organizations when the project and borrower satisfy USDA rural-area, job, credit and collateral requirements.
FY2026 financing structure
USDA’s current OneRD funding dashboard shows approximately $2.093 billion in FY2026 B&I funding, with approximately $1.079 billion remaining at the latest posted update. For FY2026, the Federal Register annual guarantee notice provides an 85 percent guarantee for B&I loans below $5 million and an 80 percent guarantee for loans from $5 million to $25 million. The standard guarantee fee is 3 percent, with a 0.55 percent periodic retention fee; qualifying reduced-fee projects may use a 1 percent guarantee fee and 0.50 percent retention fee. Interest rates are negotiated between lender and borrower, and loan terms may not exceed 40 years.
Atlas assessment
N9+ Fit Score: 68/100. The program expressly permits machinery and equipment financing, so the Nonagon N9+ remote physical examination platform could potentially be included in a broader eligible rural healthcare modernization or service-development project. USDA does not specifically designate N9+ or telehealth equipment under this program, so device allowability must be confirmed with the lender and USDA for the specific project before it is represented as financeable.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. The large remaining FY2026 guarantee capacity, rolling application cycle, broad borrower eligibility and explicit machinery/equipment authority make this a useful capital-financing route for rural healthcare organizations that need a larger modernization or expansion package and can support debt financing. It is not a grant and should not be presented as one.
Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: conditional. Dr. Miltie, LLC could only be considered as a borrower for a qualifying rural business project that independently satisfies USDA location, job, underwriting, collateral and lender requirements. The stronger Atlas posture is generally as a technology/vendor partner to a qualifying rural healthcare borrower and its participating lender.
Application controls
The lender, not the borrower, submits the USDA guarantee application. Before advancing a healthcare prospect, verify the project location is eligible, the borrower is legally eligible, the financed facility will primarily create or save rural U.S. jobs when required, the proposed equipment and other costs are eligible, the borrower meets lender underwriting and collateral requirements, and the lender is eligible under OneRD. Confirm applicant eligibility and current financing terms before pursuing this opportunity.
Assistance Listing: 10.768, Business and Industry Loans.
Official sources: USDA Rural Development — Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan; USDA Rural Development — OneRD Guarantee FY2026 funding availability.