On September 3, the 200th day after President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled to Louisa, Virginia to meet with local officials and community residents. The town has received a $3.3 million loan through the Recovery Act to help the community expand the processing capabilities of their wastewater treatment plant and improve local water quality. The project will create or save 50 jobs.
Like many rural communities across America, Louisa, population 1,500, is in need of investments and assistance to upgrade critical infrastructure. Mayor Jim Artz highlighted how important the USDA loan was for his the town. "Our infrastructure really needs some work, this is an old town," said Artz. "Conventional loans would have placed a tremendous load on our annual budget, because of this is a USDA loan, we are looking at a savings of $60,000 per year. This is big savings for a small town."
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK ANNOUNCES $15.3 MILLION FOR 145 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN RURAL AREAS
Recovery Act Projects Funded Include Business Expansions, Education and Training, Community Development and Technical Assistance
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of 145 recipients for more than $15.3 million in grants to start or expand businesses in rural communities. Through Recovery Act funding, businesses will be able to access critical capital that will help with start-up and working capital loans, building and plant renovations, transportation improvements, project planning and other business needs.
"These Recovery Act grants represent the Obama administration's ongoing efforts to ensure strategic investments and increased economic opportunities in rural America," said Vilsack. "Small businesses play an important role in building strong communities while providing vital products and services to local residents. This funding will help spur economic development to strengthen communities in dozens of states around the country."
In addition to the $15.3 million that USDA Rural Development is providing for the 145 projects announced today, recipients have raised $16 million from other sources.
For example, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe in rural northern Minnesota has been selected to receive an $83,149 grant to help The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe's Business Development Center provide training for area businesses to expand, thereby creating new jobs and spurring economic growth in the region. The funding also is expected to help lower chronically high unemployment and poverty rates among Native Americans who live in the region. Since 1980, the Business Development Center has helped Native American-owned businesses grow, secure financing, write business plans and conduct market feasibility studies. Four Native American-owned businesses already have been selected to use the Rural Development funding to expand their operations. Businesses in the 12-county region that are not owned by Native Americans also expect to benefit from the jobs created by the tribe's business development center.
Loup City Public Schools in rural Nebraska has been selected to receive an $8,800 grant to install a 1.8 kilowatt wind turbine on the school site to educate students on the importance of wind as an alternative energy source. Students will gain knowledge on wind energy as well as learn about career opportunities in the alternative energy field and wind energy's role in the economic future of rural America. Loup City Public Schools is one of the first six school jurisdictions in Nebraska to partner with the National Renewable Energy Lab's Wind for Schools program.
The funding announced today is being is being provided through USDA Rural Development's Rural Business Enterprise Program (RBEG), which helps finance new and existing businesses as well as employment-related adult education programs. RBEG funds can be used for start-up and working capital loans, building and plant renovations, transportation improvements, project planning and other business needs. Additional information on the RBEG program may be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbeg.htm.
Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation; $99,000
Umpqua Community College; $98,936
Chemeketa Community College; $99,000
The Rogue Initiative for a Vital Economy dba THRIVE; $53,620
Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN); $173,246
Valley Development Initiatives, Inc.; $99,000
Pennsylvania:
CAN DO, Inc., of Greater Hazleton; $99,990
Sun Home Health Services, Inc.; $99,500
Puerto Rico:
Rural Business Strengthening/Universidad Sagrado Corazon; $50,000
South Carolina:
Have Faith Community Development Corporation; $99,900
Salkehatchie Arts; $75,000
Williamsburg County Business Development Center; $99,050
City of Manning; $250,000
Western Carolina Higher Education Commission; $199,991
Colleton Improvement Collaborative; $99,920
SC Manufacturing Extension Partnership; $99,500
The Mitney Project; $99,000
South Dakota:
National Enterprise Development Center; $91,660
Whetstone Valley Business Opportunities; $18,288
Clark Area Chamber of Commerce; $99,000
Gate City Development Association, Inc.; $99,900
Tulare Economic Development; $22,735
City of Arlington; $94,000
Tennessee:
Reelfoot Area Chamber of Commerce; $8,500
Northwest Tennessee Human Resource Agency; $30,000
State of Tennessee; $100,000
City of Bruceton; $30,000
Covington Economic Development Corporation; $25,000
Crockett County Chamber of Commerce; $15,000
Lauderdale County Board of Education; $50,000
City of Friendship; $20,000
Giles County; $40,000
Greene County Partnership; $10,000
Wayne County Government; $199,999
Clay County; $95,000
Texas:
Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation; 300,000
Hidalgo Economic Development Corporation; $300,000
The Development Corporation of Mercedes; $300,000
La Feria Industrial Development Corporation; $300,000
Utah:
Transitions; $99,900
Vermont:
Randolph Community Development; $65,000
Virginia:
Floyd County Economic Development Authority; $ 99,000
Bland County Farmer's Market; $40,000
City of Galax; $99,600
Industrial Development Authority of Danville; $99,000
Town of Pulaski; $99,000
Washington:
Squaxin Island Tribe; $88,873
Wisconsin:
City of Ladysmith; $98,800
Heart of Wisconsin Community Incubator, Inc.; 97,000
Village of Gays Mills; $99,999
Western Pacific:
University of Guam; $50,000
Pacific Islands Microcredit Institute; $65,000
West Virginia
The City of Buckhannon; $200,000
Wyoming:
Converse Area New Development Organization, Inc.; $60,000
Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the terms of the grant agreement. More information about USDA Rural Development can be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov.
President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation's economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
More information about USDA's Recovery Act efforts is available at http://www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal government's efforts on the Recovery Act is available at www.recovery.gov.
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