FloridaCommerce has introduced the Rural Community Investment Program (RCIP), an initiative aimed at supporting small businesses in rural areas of Florida. The program was established during the 2025 legislative session and is expected to generate at least $140 million in new investments for rural communities over the next five years.
The RCIP will provide tax credits to rural investment companies that invest in businesses located in Florida’s rural regions with fewer than 250 employees. For every $4 invested, companies will receive $1 in tax credits, with a total cap of $35 million in credits distributed as $7 million annually over five years. To qualify, investment funds must demonstrate experience by having made at least $100 million in prior investments with rural businesses across the United States.
Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly stated, “We’re grateful for the Governor’s and Legislature’s leadership in putting this new option on the table for small businesses in rural communities to access the necessary capital to start and grow their businesses. The health of the small business sector is a benchmark of success and opportunity for any economic community, especially rural communities, and through the Rural Community Investment Program, we’re opening new doors for investment and creating opportunities that will help rural entrepreneurs grow, create jobs and strengthen local economies for years to come.”
To become certified as a rural fund under this program, applicants must submit their proposed investment authority amount, show they are licensed as a rural investment company, provide proof of at least $100 million invested previously in U.S. rural communities, estimate job creation numbers throughout the program’s duration, and present an approved business plan.
Applications for certification began on November 1, 2025. Further details about eligibility requirements and application procedures can be found on the Rural Community Investment Program webpage.
