Last Modified:
1:02 a.m. 10/26/2002
The Capital-Journal
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Kansas Rural Development has announced
$2.8 million in grants awarded to Kansas companies for economic development
in rural areas.
The grants are part of a $75 million grant package announced by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman this week.
"These grants will provide important investments in the ares of energy and value-added development where the agricultural sector continues to be a leader in forging new solutions," said Chuck Banks, Kansas Rural Development state director. "Investing in our schools and hospitals helps families and creates new jobs in these rural areas."
The grants are as follows:
• 21st Century Grain Processing of Manhattan, will receive $500,000 to expand flour milling into hard white wheat and expand their market for flour and food-grade corn.
• Padonia Grain Farmers, Inc. of Reserve, will receive $50,750 for a feasibility study and business plan for segregating and marketing high protein corn for domestic feed markets.
• Cooperative Agricultural Services Inc., of Grinnell, will receive $500,000 for operation of a soybean crushing facility.
• Jewell County Sunflower Processing, of Randall, will receive $41,000 for a feasibility study and business plan for a sunflower processing plant.
• Western Plains Energy LLC, of Quinter, will receive $290,615 for start-up costs for a 30-million gallon ethanol plant near Oakley.
• American White Wheat Producers Association, of Atchison, will receive $218,710 for a feasibility study and business plan for processing hard white wheat into heavy bran for breakfast cereals and specialty breads.
• East Kansas Agri-Energy LLC, of Garnett, will receive $450,000 for start-up expenses of a 20-million gallon ethanol plant near Garnett.
• U.S. Premium Beef Ltd., of Garnett, will receive $500,000 for a feasibility study and business plan for acquisition of a majority ownership interest in the Farmland National Beef Packing Co.
• Barton County Community College, of Great Bend, will receive $69,550 to develop an interactive television system for distance teaching.
• Hays Medical Center, of Hays, will receive $195,000 to purchase teleradiology equipment for 11 rural critical access hospitals.