Dover, DE July 5, 2006 – Delaware’s small business community has a lot to be happy for with over $100,000 in federal taxpayer dollars being returned to the State to support new or expanding rural businesses. Congressman Mike Castle and USDA Rural Development State Director Marlene Elliott paid a visit to Delaware City and Delaware State University (DSU) to make the announcement that will help support low-interest loans to businesses who want to open up shop in historic Delaware City; or to food businesses who want to use commercial kitchen equipment at DSU; or to members of Delaware By Hand, a state-wide artisans group, who will benefit from a marketing strategy that will help craftspeople working from their homes or small studios grow and prosper.

"Today is a wonderful day for small business in Delaware," said Congressman Castle. Through these grants, businesses in Delaware City's downtown Historic area will have increased opportunities for financial success and employment. Additionally, Delaware food businesses and hospitality majors alike will be able to use the new kitchen equipment at Delaware State University and finally, Delaware's artisans can increase awareness of their work throughout the State. Rural Business Enterprise Grants continue to provide the backbone to small business, allowing them to thrive in small-town communities throughout the country and we are truly lucky for all they do for Delaware."

The three grants were in the form of a USDA Rural Development Rural Business Enterprise Grant. Delaware City received a grant in the amount $40,000 that will help the waterfront community offer low-interest loans to businesses seeking to fill up vacant store space in the downtown area. DSU received a $50,000 grant to help purchase appliances for a shared use commercial kitchen that will be used by hospitality majors and small businesses that may include those desiring to start or grow a catering business, specialty/gourmet food producers, or farmers performing value-added operations on their crops. A $12,000 grant was awarded to Delaware By Hand, a state-wide artisans group that was formed to showcase craftspeople in Delaware; the grant will allow them to hire a staff person to spread awareness of their crafts and complete a website, www.delawarebyhand.org that was launched last year.

"USDA Rural Development programs are supported by Congress to help improve the quality of life and increase economic opportunity in rural America," said Elliott.  "Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, USDA Rural Development has returned over $5 billion to support rural businesses across rural America.  Today, we are happy to announce a return of the people’s money to rural Delaware that will help make our small businesses more successful and provide a boost to our local economy."

USDA Rural Development has over 40 programs that involve homeownership opportunities, rental housing, home repair, business development, community facilities and community infrastructure. Last year, the agency returned more than $33 million to rural Delaware. To learn more about the agency and the programs that they offer, visit their website at www.rurdev.usda.gov or call their State Office located in Dover at (302) 857-3580.