For full story: http://www.usda.gov/2006/06/0205.xml Release No. 0205.06 Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623 Wayne Maloney (202) 690-0498 JOHANNS ANNOUNCES GRANTS OF NEARLY $1 MILLION TO SPUR BUSINESS GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Empowerment Zones And Enterprise Communities To Benefit In 12 States WASHINGTON, June 12, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the award of $977,468 to communities in 12 states to assist in business development. These funds will support 14 projects providing technical support to an estimated 230 jobs will be created or saved, and over 200 businesses assisted. "This investment is targeted to help rural communities working to improve existing infrastructure or create new business opportunities for their residents," said Johanns. "By helping to create new jobs, save existing jobs and produce long term economic benefits, these funds will improve the quality of life for residents of rural America." The grants were awarded as part of the USDA Rural Development Business Opportunity Grant Program and will be provided to communities and areas that have been designated Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, or Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones. Under the EZ/EC program, communities receive funds for projects designed to provide sustainable development and economic opportunity, create community-based partnerships and promote a strategic vision for change. Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones are areas that are defined by factors including stagnant employment, low-density settlement patterns, isolation from markets, population loss or economic distress. Among the grant recipients announced today was the Tioga County, New York Rural Economic Area Partnership, which will receive $49,994 to develop a community and economic development hands-on training program for elected officials, business owners and other key county stakeholders. The Northeastern Vermont Development Association will receive a $90,000 grant to investigate the feasibility of constructing a forest products center. Cairo, Illinois, will receive a $50,000 grant to study revitalization of the downtown area. States receiving funding include: Ariz., Calif., Ga., Hawaii, Ill., Maine, Mont., N.D., N.Y., S.C., Vt. and Wis. A complete list of the grants is available at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov. USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural communities. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development has invested over $63 billion since the beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Over 1.1 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov. USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to mailto:webservices@xxxxxxxx?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE and reference your email address.
