NEWS RELEASE

 1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS  66604-4040
 Voice (785) 271-2701,  FAX (785) 271-2708,  WEB www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks

 





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 27, 2004
Contact - Harold Alford  (785) 271-2701

 

USDA Rural Development

Conducts Northeast Kansas Tour

 

Lansing, KS - USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks announced the completion of another in a series of Rural Development Listening Tour stops in Kansas following the final meeting in Lansing. During this northeast Kansas tour, State Director Banks and Agency staff visited 14 communities from August 23 - 26.

In an effort to assist USDA 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. A stop in rural Wabaunsee County was included in the tour.

“The numerous community and economic development programs available through USDA Rural Development play a vital role in meeting the challenges facing many of our State’s rural citizens. USDA Rural Development appreciates the opportunity to meet with rural community leaders to help determine local needs to achieve the goal of creating new jobs, improving economic development, and enhancing the quality of life. The Agency offers a wide range of rural business, housing and infrastructure financing programs to help meet these important goals,” commented State Director Banks.

During the tour, USDA Rural Development also conducted the following check presentations:

• Mark’s Parts & Repair – Axtell - $160,000 in loan funds to open an auto parts store in the same location.
• Our Daily Bread, Inc. – Barnes - $70,000 in loan funds to renovate and relocate to a recently acquired building, purchase equipment, including a delivery van.

Both businesses utilized USDA Rural Development’s Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program. The Agency’s Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program requires a portion of the program to be administered by either a rural telephone cooperative or rural electric cooperative. USDA Rural Development partnered with Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Inc. on the Mark’s Parts & Repair loan and Bluestem Electric Cooperative, Inc. on the Our Daily Bread, Inc. loan.

For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development programs, individuals may call 785-271-2702 or log onto the state’s Agency’s website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks

 

USDA Rural Development – Committed to the future of rural communities.

 

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