USDA
Rural Development Conducts Listening
Tour Across Southeast Kansas
Topeka, KS. USDA Rural Development
State Director Chuck Banks announced the completion of the second in a
series of Rural Development Listening Tour stops in Kansas following the
final meeting in Pomona. During this southeast Kansas tour, Agency staff
visited 12 communities from February 18 - 20.
In an effort to assist Rural
Development in Kansas to evaluate the effectiveness of its services, meetings
covering the Agency’s business loan and grant programs, along with rural
housing opportunities, were held. A large number of attendees representing
a wide range of business, community, public and private interests were
present for the tour stops.
State Director Banks commented,
The numerous economic development and housing programs available through
USDA Rural Development play a vital role in meeting the challenges facing
many of our State’s rural citizens. These programs offered by our Agency
provide Kansans the opportunity to create new jobs, along with enhancing
their economic prosperity and quality of life.
During the tour, USDA Rural
Development also conducted the following check presentations:
East Kansas Agri-Energy L.L.C., Garnett- $450,000 in grant funds to finance
start-up expenses for a new 20-million gallon ethanol plant to be located
near Garnett. Funding of this grant was available through Rural Development’s
Value-Added Agricultural Product Development Grant program.
City of Pomona- $1,380,800 in loan and grant funds for the replacement
of Pomona’s water distribution system. These funds were provided through
Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal program.
Rural Development is the economic
development agency for USDA, and the lead federal entity for rural development.
For additional information, you may log onto the state's Rural Development
website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks
or e-mail the Agency at 2002farmbillRD@ks.usda.gov
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