GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES $4.7 MILLION IN AID FOR DISTRESSED RURAL AREAS
                                            Release No. 0210.00

                                      Susan McAvoy (202) 720-4623
                                            susan.mcavoy@usda.gov
                                    Steve Thompson (202) 720-2446
                                   sathomps@rdmail.rural.usda.gov


GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES $4.7 MILLION IN AID FOR DISTRESSED RURAL AREAS

     COLUMBUS, OHIO, June 28, 2000 Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced $4.7 million in rural development loans and grants in 6 states as
part of USDA's rural Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) initiative.

     Speaking at the White House Empowerment Conference in Columbus, Glickman
said that the funds, from USDA's Community Facilities Program, will build
infrastructure and increase economic opportunity in distressed rural areas.

     "This $4.7 million in aid will provide a true boost to these distressed
rural areas," Glickman said.  "Through President Clinton and Vice President
Gore's Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Initiative, rural America is
uniting with American business, bringing rural America renewed hope and
prosperity, good jobs, better schools, and safer communities."  

     Rural EZ/EC's are areas designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as
eligible for special economic assistance, including tax breaks for businesses,
grants to local nonprofit organizations and governmental entities for special
projects, and technical assistance to local governments. Funds are used for
job training, business development, career planning and job placement, and
infrastructure improvements.

     One example Glickman highlighted today is a combined loan and grant
totaling $68,000 to Playyard Concepts in Apalachin, New York, to buy and
renovate a building for childcare services.  
     Other projects chosen for EZ/EC assistance include:

Hospital Authority of Dooly County Georgia       Loan        $1,398,441
Dooly County                       Georgia       Loan           $21,000
                                                 Grant          $49,000
Clare County                       Michigan      Loan          $260,000
Town of Sycamore                  South Carolina Loan           $26,600
                                                 Grant          $40,000
SW Florida Workforce Development Board  Florida  Loan        $2,900,000
Town of Waterproof                 Louisiana     Grant          $30,000

     Further information on the Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities
is available on USDA Rural Development's Web site, at www.ezec.gov
                                
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