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USDA Announces Launch of $100M Rural Business Investment Company

Thursday, October 20, 2016

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of the McLarty Capital Partners’ Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) – a new private investment fund with the potential to inject $100 million into growth-oriented, small businesses across rural America. As the fifth RBIC to launch since 2014, McLarty Capital Partners’ RBIC is part of the Made in Rural America initiative, an ongoing effort by the Obama administration to attract private sector capital to investment opportunities in rural America and drive more economic growth in rural communities.

  • Read more about USDA Announces Launch of $100M Rural Business Investment Company

USDA Announces Investments in Projects to Support Rural Prosperity, Facilitate Private Investments

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Last week, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) held a special meeting that include approximately 100 investors and venture capitalists to help stimulate private sector investments in rural infrastructure projects with the potential to spur economic development in small towns and rural communities across the country. Through its U.S.

  • Read more about USDA Announces Investments in Projects to Support Rural Prosperity, Facilitate Private Investments

USDA, Private VCs Raising $125M for Rural Startups

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Two private venture firms have committed to raising a total of $125 million to invest in rural, early stage startups under the Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Investment Program. The program was launched last April, when Advantage Capital Partners launched the first $150 million Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) fund.

  • Read more about USDA, Private VCs Raising $125M for Rural Startups

President Announces Capital Initiatives for Rural Small Businesses

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Speaking during a Rural Economic Forum at Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta, IA, President Obama announced several new initiatives to promote economic growth in rural areas, including two new capital programs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) will partner with USDA to double its current rate of investment in rural small businesses to $350 million over the next five years. This will be accomplished through SBA's Impact Investment Fund.

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Universities as architects of regional innovation ecosystems

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TBED programs succeed by engaging with local communities

Wednesday, July 8, 2026
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Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Following SSTI’s recent look at the timing and type of exits, we continue our look at investment activity to characterize returns on investments so that TBED investors can more accurately project and adjust program parameters to support long-term sustainability. Accurate data on venture capital investment returns and fund performance on private investment vehicles is not readily or consistently available. Anecdotal stories  and the occasional press release on a major transaction exist, but VC exits are often done quietly. As such, parties interested in understanding performance outcomes must rely on focused reports and other aggregate data. 
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