The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service has announced the availability of $2.5 million in FY2011 Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) program funds.  The RBOG program promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs through provisions of training and technical assistance for business development, entrepreneurs, and economic development officials, and to assist with economic development planning.  Of the available $2.5 million, $990,000 is reserved for projects benefiting Federally Recognized Native American Tribes in rural areas, and the remainder is unreserved.  Grants of up to $50,000 will be available for single-state projects, and grants of up to $150,000 will be available for multi-state projects.  Applications are due by August 1.  Additional information is available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-07-01/pdf/2011-16555.pdf (http://www NULL.gpo NULL.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-07-01/pdf/2011-16555 NULL.pdf).