Rural LISC: Strengthening rural business ecosystems through trusted local partners

Our programs

Rural LISC provides a wide range of services, including training, technical assistance, information, and financial support, to help rural community developers address the problems rural communities face

How Rural LISC supports small businesses in the United States

  • Small businesses are the economic backbone of rural communities, fueling jobs, stability, and long-term growth. But many rural entrepreneurs face persistent barriers — from limited access to modern tools like accounting systems to a lack of technical assistance tailored to their realities. These challenges often go unaddressed, leaving small business owners to navigate narrow margins with few supports in place.
  • To change that, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) launched Rural LISC in 1995 to bring its community development model to rural places. Today, Rural LISC partners with more than 150 community-based organizations across all 50 U.S. states and three territories.
  • In addition to deploying capital, Rural LISC provides training, technical assistance, and hands-on support to help local leaders and business development organizations (BDOs) strengthen rural economies from the ground up.

Program overview

Our work together

  • With support from Mastercard Strive USA, Rural LISC re-launched its Rural Business Development Organization (BDO) Network to help more rural entrepreneurs access the tools and support they need to grow. Together, Rural LISC and Mastercard Strive USA are establishing a multi-state learning cohort of 50 rural BDOs. This two-year initiative includes peer learning, expert consultations, capacity-building grants, and access to national partners within the Mastercard Strive USA network.
  • Through this collaboration, the BDO cohort is positioned to grow its reach, serve more rural small businesses, and unlock new sources of funding and investment for the communities they serve.

By the numbers

  • As of June 2025, the program had served over 1,500 clients, delivered nearly 3,800 hours of training, and deployed over $2.5 million in loans.

“We believe that a strong small business and entrepreneurial ecosystem can address gaps created by limited capital, capacity, and connection to resources in rural markets. This partnership with Mastercard Strive allows Rural LISC to work within business communities to provide technical assistance, funding, and networking opportunities.”

Nadia Villagrán

Director, Rural LISC

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