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USDA Rural Development, Rep. Gutknecht Recognize Grant to National Eagle Center Congressman Gutknecht joins USDA officials for recognition ceremony WABASHA, Minn., Oct. 6 – Construction is underway for a new permanent building to house the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn. The project received an additional boost in late September from Rural Development in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA Rural Development awarded the National Eagle Center a $100,000 grant for the purchase of educational equipment and display booths. U.S. Congressman Gil Gutknecht joined Rural Development officials on Friday to recognize the grant. "I congratulate the team here at the National Eagle Heritage Center for the outstanding work they do to educate people about these majestic birds,” Gutknecht said. “I am honored to assist this important project over a number of years, and I thank USDA State Rural Development Director Steve Wenzel for recognizing the Eagle Center's importance to the region." The new National Eagle Center building will be about 14,200 square feet and will also feature a viewing deck along the Mississippi River. It will also house bald eagles that are rehabilitating but cannot be returned to the wild. “This area is a wonderful habitat for bald eagles,” said Steve Wenzel, State Director of Rural Development in Minnesota. “The National Eagle Center is a tremendous asset to this area. President Bush has provided the resources and funding to Rural Development to encourage investments like this one.” More information on the National Eagle Center, including information about its ongoing capital campaign, can be found at http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/index.htm. Since 2001, USDA Rural Development has invested about $3 billion in Minnesota’s rural communities – more than twice the national average. Rural Development has funding available for clean water, housing, business and economic development, renewable energy, and other infrastructure projects in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/mn, or call the local office in Austin at (507) 437-8247.
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