| Des Moines, IA, Jul 01, 2011
-- @@As rural communities all across the state make final 4th of July preparations this weekend many have reasons to celebrate a little more thanks to USDA Rural Development.
This past week USDA Rural Development announced awards of grants and loans totaling $2,781,990 to help support economic development and job creation with 14 projects across the state.
“Improving economic opportunities for rural Americans continues to be a top area of emphasis at USDA Rural Development,” said Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa. “We are pleased to be assisting these projects that will help rural communities build stronger local economies, many through improved local foods opportunities. One of USDA’s strengths is working with organizations that are best positioned to help address an area’s economic needs.”
Some of the ways the funds will be used include establishing revolving funds, supporting the development of local foods systems, as well as helping construct speculative buildings and expand rail services.
Organizations and communities receiving funds from USDA Rural Development this week include:
Rural Community Development Initiative Program
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$83,485 grant
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Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development Area (Oakland, Iowa)
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Funds will be used to provide training to increase sustainable local food production in southwest Iowa.
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$175,105 grant
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Regional Development, Inc. (Burlington, Iowa)
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Funds will be used to help develop leaders for regional food systems in southeast Iowa by assisting producers and prospective producers with business development assistance.
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Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program
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$300,000 grant
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Board of Waterworks and Electric Power Plant Trustees (Atlantic, Iowa)
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Funds will be used to construct 25,000 square-foot industrial building in Atlantic for local or new manufacturing businesses.
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$300,000 grant
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Butler County Rural Electric Cooperative
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Funds will be used to construct 30,000 square-foot building in New Hampton to entice new business to Chickasaw County.
$300,000 grant
Central Iowa Power Cooperative
Funds will be used to construct a community-owned aquatic center and purchase a building to become city hall in Earlville. new city hall
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$300,000 grant
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Indianola Municipal Utilities (Indianola, Iowa)
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Funds will be used to construct 18,000 sq. foot addition to Blank Performing Arts Center at Simpson College.
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$250,000 grant
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Manning Municipal Light Plant (Manning, Iowa)
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Funds will be used to purchase Manning Hausbarn Heritage Park campus for an attraction, education and conference center.
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$600,000 loan
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Winnebago Cooperative Telecomm Association
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Loan to purchase 27.6 miles of rail to reconstruct a mail switch to ensure rail service in north central Iowa This project will help create jobs in Winnebago, Hancock and Wright Counties.
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Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program
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$90,000 grant
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Winneshiek County Agricultural Extension District
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Funds will be used to hire an agricultural economic development coordinator to help expand market opportunities for local foods in northeast Iowa
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$99,000 grant
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New Hartford Economic Development
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Funds will be used to create a revolving loan fund to assist small and emerging businesses in New Hartford.
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$58,497 grant
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City of Manchester
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Funds will be sued to fund a coordinator who will provide technical assistance to small businesses in and around Manchester.
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$74,450 grant
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Lee County Economic Development Group, Inc.
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Funds will assist the Great River Region Entrepreneurial Technical Assistance (GRRETA) Project by providing technical assistance to local food and food supply chain-related businesses and complementary enterprise networks located in southeast Iowa.
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$99,000 grant
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Colfax Main Street, Inc.
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Funds will be used to provide low-interest loans to public and non-profit organizations to relend for business and community development. The primary goal will be job creation and retention, particularly for the unemployed or under-employed workers of Jasper County.
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$52,453 grant
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City of Ogden
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Funds will be used to provide technical assistance to support the development of a local foods aggregation network that will serve the needs of multiple youth camps.
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Contact USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state serving the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural areas and communities. Office locations include a State Office in Des Moines, along with Area Offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
USDA Rural Development is an equal opportunity lender with a variety of direct and guaranteed rural credit programs involving single and multi-family housing, community facilities, water and sewer development and business and industry programs.
Further information on this and other programs offered by USDA Rural Development is available by calling (515) 284-4663, by visiting www.rurdev.usda.gov/ia or at any local area office.
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