NEWS
RELEASE
United States Department
of Agriculture • Rural Development
3001 Coolidge Rd. • 2nd Floor North • Suite 200 • East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: (517) 324-5204 • Fax: (517) 324-5225 •
alec.lloyd@mi.usda.gov
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES $11.5 MILLION IN RURAL BUSINESS GRANTS
WASHINGTON, June 4, 2008 − Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr today announced the selection of 70 rural communities and Native American organizations in 24 states to receive $11.5 million in economic development grants.
“These grants will help rural communities save or create more than 1,726 jobs and spur economic development,” Dorr said. “USDA is proud to work with local community leaders to help fund enterprises that improve the quality of life for rural residents.”
The funds are being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) and Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) programs. The RBEG program provides funding to finance or develop small and emerging private businesses. The RBOG program finances training and technical assistance for business development.
For example, near Grainger County, Tenn., funds will be used to support River Place, an ecotourism project located along the Upper Clinch River in East Tennessee. In particular, the project involves enhancing a conservation retreat center that will accommodate tourists for bird watching, canoeing, hunting, fishing, and arts and crafts.
In Nebraska, the Indian Center, Inc., plans to use USDA Rural Development funds to establish a “Native American Business Support Center” to provide technical assistance and support to existing and potential Native American business in Scotts Bluff county. In addition, the Indian Center will provide a training program titled, “Worlds of Work” in eight locations around the state. In First Mesa, Ariz., funds will be used to conduct a feasibility study and business plan for an assisted living facility at the IHS Hopi Health Care Medical Campus.
A complete list of grant recipients is available on the USDA Rural Development web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov. Funding for individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the conditions of the grant agreement.
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested more than $90 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.7 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov .The following organizations have been selected to receive Rural Business Enterprise Grants to create economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for rural Native Americans.
|
Recipient |
State |
Grant Amount |
|
Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska(CCTHITA) |
AK |
$192,600 |
|
Tohono O’odham Nation |
AZ |
$65,128 |
|
Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians |
CA |
$40,000 |
|
Yurok Tribe |
CA |
$73,710 |
|
Round Valley Indian Tribes |
CA |
$50,000 |
|
Karuk Community Loan Fund, Inc. |
CA |
$99,000 |
|
Coeur d’Alene Tribe |
ID |
$485,450 |
|
Nez Perce Tribe |
ID |
$30,000 |
|
Eastern Maine Development Corporation |
ME |
$37,400 |
|
Penobscot Indian Nation Enterprises |
ME |
$499,915 |
|
Hannahville Indian Community |
MI |
$31,200 |
|
Bois Forte Reservation Tribal Council |
MN |
$99,000 |
|
Indian Center, Inc. |
NE |
$87,162 |
|
Tohatchi Area of Opportunity and Services, Inc. |
NM |
$99,900 |
|
Tonkawa Development Authority |
OK |
$137,500 |
|
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs |
OR |
$99,000 |
|
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs |
OR |
$199,000 |
|
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians |
OR |
$99,900 |
|
Burns Paiute Tribe |
OR |
$97,384 |
|
The Lakota Fund |
SD |
$178,742 |
|
Four Bands Community Fund |
SD |
$75,000 |
|
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe |
SD |
$98,217 |
|
Aneth Community Development Corporation |
UT |
$195,738 |
|
Quileute Tribal School Board |
WA |
$77,143 |
|
Skokomish Indian Tribe |
WA |
$65,000 |
The following organizations have been selected to receive Rural Business Opportunity Grants to create economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for rural Native Americans.
|
Recipient |
State |
Grant Amount |
|
The Hopi Tribe |
AZ |
$49,125 |
|
Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation |
CA |
$100,014 |
|
Penobscot Indian Nation |
ME |
$49,362 |
|
White Earth Tribal Government |
MN |
$27,380 |
|
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians |
NC |
$150,000 |
|
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe |
ND |
$150,000 |
|
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission |
OR |
$61,746 |
|
Catawba Indian Nation |
SC |
$150,000 |
|
Yankton Sioux Tribe |
SD |
$22,500 |
|
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians |
UT |
$50,000 |
|
Northwoods Niijii Enterprise Community, Inc. |
WI |
$249,669 |
|
Wind River Development Fund |
WY |
$21,549 |
The following organizations have been selected to receive Rural Business Enterprise Grants through the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community and Rural Economic Area Partnership.
|
Recipient |
State |
Grant Amount |
|
Coalinga Enterprise Community |
CA |
$66,158 |
|
Huron Enterprise Community |
CA |
$47,360 |
|
Westside Housing and Economic Network (WHEN) |
CA |
$71,106 |
|
Palo Verde Valley Community Improvement Fund |
CA |
$200,000 |
|
Crisp-Dooly Joint Development Authority |
GA |
$99,999 |
|
Crisp County –Cordele Industrial Development Authority |
GA |
$99,999 |
|
Southern Illinois Stimulus Corporation |
IL |
$150,000 |
|
Pulaski County Development Association |
IL |
$300,000 |
|
Delta Center, Inc. |
IL |
$214,800 |
|
Franco-American Heritage Center at St. Mary’s |
ME |
$500,000 |
|
Museum L-A |
ME |
$286,650 |
|
Fort Fairfield, Town of |
ME |
$98,000 |
|
Middle Michigan Development Corporation |
MI |
$99,500 |
|
Clare County |
MI |
$99,500 |
|
Achievements Unlimited Foundation |
ND |
$193,100 |
|
Rural Economic Area Partnership Investment Fun |
ND |
$99,000 |
|
Prairie West Development Foundation |
ND |
$86,975 |
|
Town of Stonewall |
OK |
$499,900 |
|
Coalgate Industrial Development Authority |
OK |
$360,000 |
|
Coal County Commissioners |
OK |
$499,000 |
|
Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc. |
PA |
$200,000 |
|
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council |
PA |
$300,000 |
|
Western Carolina Higher Education Commission (WCHEC) |
SC |
$452,625 |
|
Hancock County |
TN |
$500,000 |
|
Clinch-Powell RC&D Council (RLF) |
TN |
$99,000 |
|
Clinch-Powell RC&D Council (River Place) |
TN |
$99,000 |
|
Jubilee Project, Inc. |
TN |
$98,997 |
|
Northern Communities Investment Corporation |
VT |
$200,000 |
|
Northern Enterprises, Inc. |
VT |
$500,000 |
|
Nulhegan Gateway Association, Inc. |
VT |
$154,637 |
|
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin |
WI |
$23,577 |
|
Northwoods Niijii Enterprise Community, Inc. |
WI |
$468,587 |
|
Niijii Small Business Loan Fund, Inc. |
WI |
$63,881 |
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