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 .
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