USDA ANNOUNCES $16.3 MILLION IN RURAL BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE ZONE LOANS AND GRANTS
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2007 – Agriculture Under Secretary Thomas C. Dorr today announced the award of $16.3 million in loans and grants to spur economic development in rural communities.
"The funding announced today will be used for a broad array of community and economic development projects in some of America's neediest communities," Dorr said. "It will also be used for renewable energy development and to improve rural transportation systems."
The Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) program promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs. It helps to fund provision of training and technical assistance for business development, entrepreneurs, and economic development officials and to assist with economic development planning. The following applicants were selected to receive funding through the RBOG Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities and Rural Economic Area Partnership Congressionally directed spending:
Recipient
State
Grant Amount
MoenKopi Development Corporation, Inc.
AZ
$49,500
Desert Alliance for Community Empowerment (DACE)
CA
$50,000
Crisp/Dooly Joint Development Authority
GA
$50,000
County of Alexander
IL
$80,500
Northern Maine Development Commission, Inc.
ME
$120,000
Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone
ND
$49,000
East Central University
OK
$219,880
Southwestern Pennsylvania Community Development Corporation
PA
$50,000
Western Carolina Higher Education Commission (WCHEC)
SC
$61,140
Sokaogon Chippewa Community Mole Lake Band
WI
$125,948
Northern Community Investment Corporation (NCIC)
VT
$127,000
The following applicants were selected to receive funding through the RBOG Native American Congressionally directed spending:
Recipient
State
Grant Amount
Indian Township Tribal Government
ME
$40,000
Lower Sioux Indian Community
MN
$50,000
Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation (HCCDC)
NE
$128,220
Ramah Navajo Chapter
NM
$60,460
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
NC
$150,000
Moapa Band of Paiute Indians
NV
$28,500
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
OR
$123,900
Four Bands Community Fund, Inc.
SD
$95,000
Aneth Community Development Corporation (CDC)
UT
$49,200
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe
WA
$50,000
Northwoods Niijii Enterprise Community, Inc.
WI
$150,000
Wind River Development Fund
WY
$50,000
The Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) provides funding to assist with the alleviation of poverty and to increase economic activity and employment in rural communities. Selected intermediaries are provided with revolving loan fund capital which they use to make loans to businesses in their service areas. The following applicant intermediaries were selected to receive funding through the IRP Mississippi Delta Region Counties and Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities and Rural Economic Area Partnership Congressionally directed spending:
Recipient
State
Loan Amount
City of West Frankfort
IL
$600,000
Purchase Area Development District, Inc.
KY
$1,000,000
Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation
KY
$750,000
Northern Community Investment Corporation
VT
$750,000
Vermont Community Loan Fund
VT
$492,579
The Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program provides funding to organizations that facilitate the development of small and emerging rural businesses. The following applicants were selected to receive funding through the RBEG Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems Congressionally directed spending:
Recipient
State
Grant Amount
Community Transportation Association of America
DC
$247,500
Community Transportation Association of America
DC
$495,000
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Loan and Grant (Section 9006) program provides funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy production projects or energy efficiency improvements. The following applicant was selected to receive funding under this program:
Recipient
State
Loan Amount
Maple River Energy, LLC
IA
$10,000,000
USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development has invested more than $76.8 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. As a result, more than 1.5 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 .
