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NEWS RELEASE 1303
SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka,
KS 66604-4040 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 8, 2004 Contact – Harold Alford (785) 271-2701
USDA Rural Development Announces Funding For Kansas
Topeka, KS. – USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks congratulated the seven recipients selected for $1,994,000 in funding to support economic development in rural Kansas. Funding of the projects, available through the Agency’s Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program with rural cooperatives, was announced by Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman this week.
“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’s ongoing efforts to spur economic development in rural areas,” 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 in bringing 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”.
Funding of selected applicants will be contingent upon meeting the conditions of the loan and/or grant agreement.
The Kansas projects announced follow:
Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Inc.; Marshall County, KS –
$160,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in the expansion of a family-owned business in Axtell, Kansas.
Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Inc.; Morris County, KS – $114,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in financing the construction of a new warehouse storage building in Council Grove, Kansas.
Leavenworth-Jefferson Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Jefferson County, KS –
$234,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in the purchase of new equipment and renovation of a family-owned business in Valley Falls, Kansas
Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Stevens County, KS –
$450,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in the building of a new manufacturing facility and equipment outside of Hugoton, Kansas.
Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Republic County, KS –
$136,000 / Rural economic development loan for expansion, remodeling, and new equipment for an existing manufacturing and distribution facility in Courtland, Kansas.
S&T Telephone Cooperative Association; Gove County, KS –
$450,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist in the financing of a new soybean processing facility in Gove County, Kansas.
Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Scott County, KS –
$450,000 / Rural economic development loan to assist the financing of a new dairy facility in Scott County, Kansas
USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, the Agency provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure in rural America.
For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development programs, individuals may call the Agency’s state headquarters at 785-271-2702 or log onto the state’s Rural Development website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks
USDA Rural Development – Committed to the Future of Rural Communities.
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