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June 30, 2006 -- Rural Development announced announced the availability of $1.5 million in competitive cooperative agreement funds for 1890 Land Grant institutions.
Federal Register Notice (PDF)
June 29, 2006 -- Agriculture Deputy Secretary Conner announced the award of $4 million in low interest loans to organizations in five states to promote business and economic development.
Full Story
June 26, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (click photo to enlarge) was recently in Iowa, where he presented Riksch BioFuels, LLC -- a 10 million-gallon-per-year biodiesel facility in southeastern Iowa -- with a $500,000 renewable energy grant. The project's lender, Midwest Bank of Western Illinois, also received a $3.25 million loan guarantee, making this the first biodiesel facility in the country to receive both a Rural Development renewable energy grant and loan.
Full Story
Renewable Energy Webcast and National Conference
June 23, 2006 -- The Departments of Agriculture and Energy recently held a press teleconference to highlight their efforts to promote renewable energy. The two Departments will co-host a national renewable energy conference this October to help create partnerships and strategies necessary to accelerate commercialization of renewable energy industries and distribution systems.
Audio Webcast
Full Story
June 21, 2006 -- Agriculture Secretary Johanns announced that nearly $1.5 million in grant funds is now available to eligible cooperatives and associations of cooperatives to help small, minority producers develop business plans, conduct feasibility studies or create marketing plans.
Full Story / Federal Register Notice (PDF)
June 19, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (click photo to enlarge) was at a renewable energy conference (see his remarks, PDF file) in Harrisburg, Penn., sponsored by Rural Development, U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and the Penn. Department of Agriculture. While there, Mr. Dorr presented $99,300 in Rural Business Enterprise Grant funds to Southern Alleghenies Conservancy, Inc. The company will use the funds for a feasibility study regarding development of a biofuels plant.
Full Story
June 15, 2006: "Biodiesel, From Field to Fuel" Workshop
A one-day course offered by the University of Idaho in Coeur d'Alene.
June 12, 2006 -- Agriculture Secretary Johanns announced the award of $977,468 to communities in 12 states to assist in business development.
Full Story / Recipients List
June 12, 2006 -- Housing and Community Facilities Programs Administrator Russell Davis helped a group of future West Virginia homeowners build their own homes. The homes are being constructed near Hedgesville, through Rural Development's Self Help Housing program.
Full Story
June 9, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (at podium, click photo to enlarge) recognizes new homeowner Keith Sunderland (front) a Baxter, Minnesota resident with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities who achieved homeownership with Rural Development support. Also shown (from right) are Keith's parents, Warren and Patsy Sunderland, and Minnesota Rural Development State Director Steve Wenzel.Full Story
June 9, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (click photo to enlarge) announced a $558,192 grant to enable the Interfaith Housing Alliance, a Pennsylvania non-profit organization, to assist 21 families as they work to build their own homes. The funds were provided through Rural Development's Self Help Housing program.
Full Story
Pictured L to R: James Upchurch, Interfaith Housing Chief Executive Officer/President; Andrea Berkstresser of Rural Development in Pennsylvania; Candace Goebel, Interfaith Housing Board Member; Mr. Dorr; Rural Development Pennsylvania State Director Gary Groves.
June 2, 2006 -- Agriculture Secretary Johanns announced the appointment of Douglas L. Faulkner to serve as Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development. Faulkner will work closely with Rural Development Under Secretary Dorr to coordinate the activities of the USDA Energy Council.
Full Story
Rural Cooperatives
Magazine
May/June
PDF files require the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
May 31, 2006 -- June is National Homeownership Month
In support of Homeownership Month, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns (click photo to enlarge) announced special eligibility considerations for low- and moderate-income home loan applicants who are purchasing newer, energy-efficient homes.
Full Story
Related Items:
President Bush's Proclamation
Editorial by Under Secretary Thomas Dorr
More about our homeownership programs
Full Homeownership Month coverage
May 31, 2006 -- USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a groundbreaking initiative to provide the assistance needed for small and very small plant owners to improve their establishments' food safety programs. FSIS will collaborate with Rural Development and will make plant owners and operators aware of loan programs available through Rural Development's Business and Cooperative programs.
Full Story
May 31, 2006 -- Agriculture Secretary Johanns announced the award of 67 loans and grants totaling over $17 million to fund targeted rural economic development projects in 23 states. The funds will create or save an estimated 1,400 jobs.
Full Story / Recipients List (PDF)
May 24, 2006 -- USDA announced the availability of funds to help qualified homeowners who are behind on payments because of last year's hurricanes. Homeowners who have financed their homes through Rural Development's Guaranteed Loan Program are eligible.
Full Story / Federal Register Notice (PDF)
May 19, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr announced the selection of three National Multi-Family Housing Site Managers of the Year for 2005.
Full Story
May 17, 2006 -- New Website for American Indian/Alaska Native Communities
Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr announced the launch of a new site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/aian/ designed to better serve American Indian and Alaska Native customers.
Full Story
May 17, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (click photo for full view) recently visited Indiana, where he met with members of the Rahal Letterman Racing Team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rahal Letterman is sponsoring an ethanol-powered car. This year, Indy cars are running on ten-percent ethanol and will shift to one-hundred percent ethanol fuel next season.
Pictured L to R: Driver Jeff Simmons discusses his Indy ride with Under Secretary Dorr and Rahal Letterman Public Relations Director Tom Blattler.
Related item: Learn how Rural Development's Business Programs can support ethanol and other alternative energy projects.
May 12, 2006 -- Agriculture Secretary Johanns announced more than $118 million in loans to seven rural electric cooperatives to help provide infrastructure for economic development in rural communities. The loans were made to rural electric co-ops serving Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
Full Story
May 9, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr announced that RC Technologies Corporation in New Effington, South Dakota will receive a loan of more than $3 million to expand broadband access in South Dakota and Minnesota.
Full Story
May 9, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (click photo for full view) recently joined California State Director Ben Higgins to present two checks in Northern California. In Arbuckle, Sun Valley Rice received an $8.5 million guaranteed business loan for long term growth. Willows, California received a $7.5 million utilities loan for improvements to the city's wastewater treatment plant. Rural Development's programs increase economic opportunities and improve the quality of life of rural residents.
Pictured L to R: Under Secretary Dorr, Willows City Engineer David Swartz and California State Director Ben Higgins.
Related item: Learn how Rural Development's Business Programs can stimulate your community's economy, and how our Water Programs can help your community improve its water systems.
May 8, 2006 -- Agriculture Secretary Johanns announced the appointment of Ryan Gleason as Rural Development State Director in New Mexico.
Full Story
April 28, 2006 -- Agriculture Secretary Johanns announced the availability of approximately $495,000 in competitive funds for institutions of higher learning to conduct research on the economic impact of cooperatives.
Full Story / Federal Register Notice (PDF)
April 25, 2006 -- Agriculture Secretary Johanns announced the availability of $1 million in grants that will provide for technical and supervisory housing assistance programs to help rural residents obtain or continue to occupy affordable, suitable housing.
Full Story / Federal Register Notice (PDF)
April 24, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (click photo for full view) visited Montana on April 24 to celebrate Earth Day at a tree planting and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Felsman II duplexes, a new eco-friendly multi-family housing development in Pablo, Montana.
Pictured L to R: Rural Development Montana State Director Tim Ryan; Mr. Dorr; Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Chairman James Steele, Jr.; Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority Executive Director Jason Adams.
April 21, 2006 -- Agriculture Secretary Johanns celebrated Earth Day by signing two Colorado conservation agreements totaling $91.6 million that will conserve water and improve wildlife habitat. Johanns also highlighted $115.1 million in Rural Development investments to 28 states for water and waste disposal loans and grants to assist over 50 rural communities with environmentally sound waste disposal and safe drinking water systems.
Full Story / Water Projects Recipients List (PDF)
April 20, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (click photo for full view) visited Ohio on April 20-21 to celebrate Earth Day. Mr. Dorr was also the keynote speaker at the Eastern Ohio
Development Alliance’s Annual Meeting, where he discussed economic development opportunities for rural America.
Mr. Dorr's Remarks (PDF)
April 17, 2006 -- Rural Development announced the availability of approximately $1 million in Technical and Supervisory Assistance grant funds. This program allows eligible organizations to conduct programs for low-income rural residents to help them obtain or maintain their occupancy in adequate housing.
Federal Register Notice (PDF)
April 13, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr announced the availability of $20 million in grants to rural communities to strengthen distance learning and telemedicine programs in rural America.
Full Story / Federal Register Notice (PDF)
April 10, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr joined Rural Development Colorado State Director Mike Bennett and representatives from the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center Association for a $26,620,000 ceremonial check presentation and ground breaking for a new 25-bed critical access care hospital.
Full Story
April 10, 2006 -- Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (click photo for full view) was recently in Salida, Colorado, where he presented a $26,620,000 check to the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center Association for a new 25-bed critical access care hospital and participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.
Full Story
April 6, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr introduced a new USDA voucher program by presenting 40 tenants of Wedgewood Apartments with short-term rental subsidies, roughly $240 per tenant per month, that will allow them to remain in their apartments despite a rent increase of about 45 percent.
Full Story
April 6, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr announced that Broadband South, LLC, will receive a $33.8 million loan to expand broadband access in southeast Georgia, the Florida Panhandle and northern Florida. Sixty four rural communities will be served by this project.
Full Story
April 6, 2006 -- Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas Dorr announced loans totaling $43.7 million to provide broadband service to an estimated 41,000 rural households and businesses in four states.
Full Story
April 4, 2006 -- Under Secretary Thomas Dorr (left, click photo for full view) joins other national judges at the "Great American Water Taste Test" held in Washington, DC to select the best water in rural America. Beaver, Utah beat out four other top finalists to be selected as the community with the "best water in America."
Related item: Learn how Rural Development's Water Programs can help your community improve its drinking water.
Rural Cooperatives
Magazine
Mar./Apr.
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