ACT! Awarded $500,000 USDA Grant

ACT! Awarded $500,000 USDA Rural Development Grant to Expand Small Business Lending in Southwest Georgia

New revolving loan fund will increase access to capital for eligible businesses across 14 Southwest Georgia counties

ALBANY, Ga. — August 17, 2026 — Albany Community Together, Inc. (ACT!) has been awarded $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to establish a revolving loan fund that will expand access to capital for eligible small businesses in rural communities across Southwest Georgia.

The investment, awarded through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program, will support business development and economic growth within a 14-county target area consisting of:

Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas and Worth counties.

ACT!, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) headquartered in Albany, will administer the fund and provide financing to qualified businesses operating in USDA-eligible rural areas within the 14-county region.

“This investment provides ACT! with another important tool to address one of the greatest challenges facing entrepreneurs in rural communities—access to capital,” said Dr. Thelma Adams Johnson, President and CEO of Albany Community Together, Inc. “Southwest Georgia is home to entrepreneurs who are creating jobs, providing essential services and investing in their communities. This funding will allow us to put additional capital directly into those businesses and create a source of financing that can continue working in our region for years to come.”

A Revolving Source of Capital for Southwest Georgia

The $500,000 USDA investment will capitalize a revolving loan fund, allowing ACT! to make loans to eligible rural businesses throughout the targeted Southwest Georgia counties.

As borrowers repay their loans, those dollars can be returned to the fund and deployed to additional eligible businesses. This revolving structure allows the original investment to be used repeatedly, extending its economic impact well beyond the initial round of lending.

The fund is designed to support rural business development, expansion and job creation and retention while increasing the availability of financing in communities where entrepreneurs may have fewer conventional lending options.

“Access to capital is critical to the sustainability and growth of rural businesses,” Johnson said. “The power of this investment is that the dollars do not have to stop working after the first loan. As the capital revolves, ACT! can continue investing in businesses and communities throughout Southwest Georgia.”

Rural Small Businesses Encouraged to Contact ACT!

ACT! is encouraging small business owners and entrepreneurs operating within the 14-county target market who are seeking financing to contact the organization to determine whether their business and proposed use of funds may qualify for the new loan program.

Businesses must meet applicable USDA Rural Development geographic and program eligibility requirements, as well as ACT!’s lending and underwriting requirements. Because USDA rural eligibility is based on specific geographic criteria, a business's location within one of the 14 target counties does not automatically guarantee eligibility.

ACT! will work with prospective applicants to determine whether their business location and financing request meet program requirements.

Small businesses located in Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas or Worth County that need capital to start, strengthen, sustain or expand their operations are encouraged to contact ACT! to learn more.

Potential borrowers may contact ACT! to:

• Determine whether their business location is eligible;
• Discuss their business financing needs;
• Learn about eligible uses of loan proceeds;

Determine whether they meet preliminary program requirements; and

Receive information about the application and underwriting process.

Loan terms, eligible uses, application procedures and the official launch date will be announced as ACT! completes implementation of the new revolving loan fund.

Investing in Rural Economic Growth

The USDA award strengthens ACT!’s ongoing work to expand access to affordable capital and business development resources throughout Southwest Georgia.

For rural communities, access to business capital can have an impact that extends beyond an individual borrower. Growing businesses purchase goods and services, create and retain jobs, occupy commercial properties, generate local economic activity and provide essential products and services to residents.

“This award is an investment in the businesses that help our rural communities thrive,” Johnson said. “We appreciate USDA Rural Development’s confidence in ACT! and its commitment to Southwest Georgia. We look forward to working with entrepreneurs throughout these 14 counties and putting this capital to work where it can make a meaningful difference.”

Interested in the Rural Business Development Loan Fund?

Small business owners within the 14-county service area who are interested in financing are encouraged to contact ACT! to determine potential eligibility.

Albany Community Together, Inc. (ACT!)

230 South Jackson Street, Suite 249

Albany, Georgia 31701

Phone: 229 420-4600

Email: information@albanycommunitytogether.com

Website: www.albanycommunitytogether.com

Funding is subject to program eligibility, underwriting requirements, and availability.

About Albany Community Together, Inc.

Albany Community Together, Inc. (ACT!) is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution headquartered in Albany, Georgia, serving entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout a 38-county service area in Southwest and Middle Georgia.

ACT!’s mission is to build wealth and create economic opportunities in Georgia by providing affordable access to capital, coaching and connections to entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Through lending, business coaching and strategic partnerships, ACT! works to strengthen small businesses, create and retain jobs, and increase economic opportunity in the communities it serves.

About USDA Rural Development

USDA Rural Development provides loans, grants and other resources that support economic development and improve quality of life in rural communities. The Rural Business Development Grant Program supports projects that promote rural economic development and assist small and emerging businesses.