Release No. 0466.09
Contact:
Jay Fletcher (202) 690-0498
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK ANNOUNCES $8 MILLION TO PROMOTE RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 58 recipients have been selected to receive $8 million in grants to spur economic development in rural communities in 41 states, the Territory of Puerto Rico and the Western Pacific.
"Rural businesses are the lifeblood of rural communities and their financial health is vital as we work to create jobs and expand entrepreneurship throughout the country," Vilsack said. "The funding we are announcing today will help lay the foundation for economic growth in many communities, consistent with the Obama Administration's vision of rebuilding and revitalizing rural America."
The funds are being provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program, which finance development of small and emerging rural business. The grants may be used for project planning, land acquisition and development, transportation and infrastructure improvements; renovation or construction, equipment purchases, establishment of working capital or revolving loan funds, adult job training and technical assistance.
For example, Minnesota-based Windustry has been selected to receive a $200,000 grant to form the Landowner Wind Energy Association Resource Center. The center will provide technical assistance to rural small businesses to analyze, organize, develop and expand rural wind energy projects. Windustry will work with businesses seeking to construct wind projects in Montana, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
In Eugene, Ore., the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network has been selected to receive a $99,999 grant to provide technical assistance - via distance learning & video-conferencing - to businesses in nine counties. The network provides technical assistance to would-be entrepreneurs as well as to existing businesses. USDA funding will help the Center extend its assistance beyond their immediate locations into more rural and remote parts of Oregon.
The grants are administered by USDA Rural Development and funding of each recipient is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreement.
Below is a complete list of Rural Business Enterprise grants announced today:
Alabama:
MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians - $80,000
Alaska:
Ketchikan Gateway Borough - $99,000
Arkansas:
Independence County - $450,000
California:
New Season Community Development Corporation - $229,970
Colorado:
Southeast Colorado RC&D - $90,300
Florida:
City of Cedar Key - $164,100
Georgia:
Hampton Downtown Development Authority - $90,000
Hawaii:
County of Maui - $369,918
Idaho:
Ketchum Community Development Corporation - $49,999
Framing Our Community, Inc. - $36,732
Illinois:
Lake Land College - $148,250
Iowa:
Upper Iowa University - $99,000
Chamber & Development Council of Crawford County - $65,000
Kansas:
Heartland Center for Leadership Development - $99,000
Wichita County Economic Development, Inc. - $53,400
Smoky Hill Development Corporation - $40,000
Kentucky:
Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, Inc. - $198,787
Louisiana
Acadiana RC&D, Inc. - $123,991
Maine:
Town of Milo - $500,000
Maryland:
Maryland Hawk Corporation - $500,000
Massachusetts:
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute, Inc. - $99,000
Michigan:
Target Alpena - $99,000
Minnesota:
Hubbard County Regional Economic Development Commission - $99,590
Windustry - $200,000
Worthington Regional Economic Development Corp. - $99,900
Mississippi:
Coahoma County Board of Supervisors - $60,614
Missouri:
National Center for Beef Excellence - $297,000
City of Mansfield - $117,000
Montana:
Snowy Mountain Development Corporation - $50,000
Snowy Mountain Development Corporation - $13,500
Nebraska:
Region V Foundation - $99,900
Center for Rural Affairs - $99,000
Nebraska Venture Capital Forum dba Invest Nebraska Corporation - $92,000
New Hampshire:
Coastal Economic Development Corporation - $25,000
New York:
Snow Belt Housing Company, Inc.; - $99,000
North Carolina:
Town of Franklinton - $75,000
North Dakota:
Minot State University - Bottineau College - $90,750
Ohio:
Gallia County Board of Commissioners - $99,000
Oklahoma:
Ada Industrial Development Corporation - $500,000
Oregon:
Oregon Small Business Development Center Network - $99,999
Economic Development Council of Tillamook County - $50,000
Pennsylvania:
Main Street Gettysburg, Inc. - $99,000
Puerto Rico:
Municipality of Coamo - $500,000
Rhode Island:
Rhode Island Rural Development Council - $20,000
South Dakota:
Glacial Lakes Area Development, Inc. - $99,000
Tennessee:
City of Columbia - $99,000
Greater Van Buren County - Spencer Chamber of Commerce - $99,500
Texas:
Alamo EDC - $250,000
Utah:
Friends of Green River - $88,800
Vermont:
Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation - $73,725
Vermont Cheese Council, Inc. - $71,740
Virginia:
Scott County Economic Development Authority - $80,000
Staunton Creative Community Fund, Inc. - $98,000
Washington:
Institute for Washington's Future - $36,400
Western Pacific:
The Latte Stones Foundation - $10,000
West Virginia:
Fairmont Community Development Partnership, Inc. - $99,500
Glenville State College Research Corporation - $249,500
Wisconsin:
CAP Services, Inc. - $70,832
USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development and supports the creation of critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbeg.htm.
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