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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 6, 2003
Contact- Harold Alford (785) 271-2701
USDA Rural Development Announces Funding For Kansas
Bonner Springs, KS. – USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks, following a meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman, congratulated the nine recipients of $2.8 million in funding to support economic development in rural Kansas. Funding of the projects, available through an Agency program with rural cooperatives, was announced by Secretary Veneman today.
“These business development funds will support local community efforts to bring economic growth and employment opportunities to rural Kansas. This assistance underscores the commitment of the Bush Administration to a vibrant and healthy rural America,” commented State Director Banks.
Banks further remarked, “USDA Rural Development will continue to work vigorously with our state’s rural cooperatives to support local efforts to bring new business investment to their communities. I would like to thank the rural cooperatives for their participation in this excellent program that assists rural Kansas. This program is good for our communities, it is good for the Kansas economy, and it is good for rural Kansans working to create a better life.
The Kansas projects announced follow:
Ark Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc., Barton County, KS –
$326,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in the expansion of a century old business in Claflin, Kansas.
Bluestem Electric Cooperative, Inc., Pottawatomie County, KS -- $450,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in financing the construction of grain storage facilities and equipment.
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Bluestem Electric Cooperative, Inc., Nemaha County, KS –
$200,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in financing the expansion of a family-owned business to include a new building and additional equipment and vehicles.
Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc., Grant County, KS –
$450,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in the financing of a sweet corn processing facility in Ulysses, Kansas.
Sedgwick Electric Cooperative, Inc., Sedgwick County, KS -- $360,000 / Rural economic development loan to provide working capital for machinery and equipment for a start-up value-added, vertically integrated farm product retail store to be located in Newton, Kansas.
Sumner-Cowley Electric Cooperative, Inc., Sumner County, KS -- $450,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in the start-up of a water bottling company in Caldwell, Kansas.
S&T Telephone Cooperative Association, Thomas County, KS -- $136,320 / Rural economic development loan to assist in the financing of the purchase of equipment to open an implement store in Goodland, Kansas.
S&T Telephone Cooperative Association, Thomas County, KS -- $35,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist a family in purchasing a grocery store.
Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., Greeley County, KS -- $450,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist the purchase of equipment for an ethanol facility in Greeley County.
USDA Rural Development has provided nearly $20 million in funding through Kansas rural cooperatives for rural communities and businesses over the past ten years. For information regarding Rural Development programs, you may log onto the state Agency’s website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks or call 785-271-2701.
USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal agency for rural development needs and administers financial and technical assistance through three areas: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service.
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