The Rural Business Investment Program (RBIP) promotes economic development in mostly rural areas by helping to meet the equity capital investment needs of smaller enterprises located in such areas. The program is similar to SBA venture capital programs – the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) and New Markets Venture Capital (NMVC) programs.  USDA licenses newly formed for-profit venture capital companies as Rural Business Investment Company's (RBICs) to make equity, and equity-like, investments mostly in smaller enterprises located primarily in rural areas.