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For detail information about the program visit the Rural Business Enterprise Grant webpage.
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Florida:

Outline of Need:
The Tri-County potato growing region of northeast Florida consists of approximately 21,000 acres of unique farmland in St. Johns, Putnam and Flagler counties. The climate allows growers to harvest potatoes early in the year, March and April, and into the winter months in some years. Over a period of time, the technology for potato storage has improved, meaning that growers cannot compete relying solely on the freshness of their product. Additionally, the number of buyers has dwindled contributing to the decline of the industry.

How Rural Development Helped:
The Sun Fresh of Florida Marketing Cooperative project is a Rural Development RBEG and technical assistance project aimed at assisting in reestablishing the Tri-County area as the Potato Capital of Florida. Rural Development provided assistance in development of the cooperative as a marketing organization. In addition, an RBEG was provided to assist with the initial marketing rollout for the new variety of potato that is higher in vitamin C, lower in carbohydrates, and higher in proteins than an equivalent russet potato. A grant in the amount of $95,000 was awarded to the Floridian RC&D Council who will provide technical assistance to Sun Fresh.

Rural Development’s Florida staff provided technical assistance in the initial development of the cooperative in addition to the grant to the Floridian RC&D. Partners in the project include the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). IFAS provided research, testing and other technical assistance. FDACS provided extensive assistance in developing the marketing program logo, labeling and in coordinating the initial marketing activities.

The Results:
Sun Fresh has exclusive rights to the potato, and the cooperative began marketing efforts in January 2005. The potato’s low carbohydrate and high protein characteristics, as well as an appealing appearance, distinguish it from other table potatoes. Branded as the SunLite potato, the product is marketed as a fresh, high in vitamin C, low carbohydrate, and high protein premium table potato to the health conscious consumer. The product branding has established the Sunlite potato as unique and discernable from other table potatoes and provides a product identity to Florida and Tri-County potatoes, where no identify existed previously. This program created or saved 60 jobs in the area.

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Georgia:

Outline of Need:
The Millenium Center in Cuthbert, GA is a 20-acre campus that provides substance abuse treatment to women with children for up to a year and that allows the entire family to live on site while the woman receives treatment. The campus is in Randolph County, one of the poorest counties in Georgia and part of the Southern Lower Chattahoochee Council of Governments Champion Community, and is the result of many partners. The center-needed assistance with the child care facility, the administration building, and a turn lane and welcome gate.

How Rural Development Helped:
Rural Development provided $1,074,000 through a direct CF loan to assist with the child-care facility and the administration building; a subsequent RBEG for $110,000 was used for a turn lane and welcome gate.

The Results:
At the time of the grand opening in FY2004, 21 children had been reunified with their natural parent following an out of home placement and 15 have been able to remain with their natural parent as a result of parental participation in The Millenium Center program. Twenty homes are on site. The treatment center receives an annual rent of $410,000 from the state for tenants and provides 30 jobs.

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Georgia:
Outline of Need:
DCUTS is a rural public transportation system started in Nov. 1999 in the Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone. Because of this service, elderly residents can get to medical appointments. Welfare recipients have been able to go back to work or get to G.E.D. or vocational training, and child-care facilities. Due to the high demand for this service, DCUTS needed to expand its program to support the needs of the community.

How Rural Development Helped:
RBEG, RCDI, and technical assistance from Rural Development.

The Results:
2002 Dooly County Small Business of the Year and 2002 Excelsior Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Provider in devising, implementing and documenting a Best Practice. DCUTS has been nationally recognized and is used as a blueprint for success in the implementation of rural public transportation infrastructure.

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Idaho:

Outline of Need:
The economic base of Washington County has typically been that of ranching and lumber processing. Accordingly, over the last decade most of the lumber mills have closed down and ranch land is owned by the “elite” few. The economy has further been strained as one of the local employers (Clearwater Research, Inc.) relocated to Boise in December, causing the unemployment rate to skyrocket. Residents are forced to drive further away for work and shopping needs, with local job creation looking bleak and causing an adverse effect upon the community.

In 2003, a local group, the “Upper Country Eldercare Coalition” (UCEC), a non-profit organization made up of volunteers, was mobilized to consider the possibility of building an assisted living facility in the City of Cambridge (Washington County, Idaho) as the elderly population in the community was being forced to move away from friends and family in order to receive needed health care and services. The Coalition, which represented the four rural communities in Washington and Adams counties, concluded that their first step was to determine whether an assisted care facility could be feasible. To help with the feasibility determination, in 2003 Business Programs approved a $37,500 Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) to the City of Cambridge to contract with a qualified independent firm to prepare an assisted living facility feasibility study.

How Rural Development Helped:
The initial $37,500 RBEG-funded study concluded that the facility was feasible. In 2005, with the RBEG-funded feasibility study in hand, UCEC proceeded toward making the facility a reality, and began working with the Rural Development Community Facility Program Division to obtain financing for construction of their project. The USDA, Rural Development Idaho, Community Facility Program Division has approved a Direct CF Loan ($500,000), a Guaranteed CF Loan ($100,000), and CF Grant ($30,000). Additionally, to assist with project development financing, Business Programs has approved additional RBEG assistance to the City of Cambridge of $40,000 for the purchase of equipment that will be used in the facility when construction has been completed. Other project funding includes: Applicant Cash ($99,689), Idaho CDBG Grant ($200,200), Foundation donations ($315,193), and a State of Idaho Grant ($25,000).

The Results:
The UCEC, as a non-profit, intends to operate the facility and provide services for community members and have the facility employ members of the community. UCEC reports that the assisted living facility, when completed, will have 15 rooms, and will employ 7 individuals.

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Idaho:
Outline of Need:
The economic base of Gooding, Jerome and Twin Falls Counties has typically evolved around the agriculture and dairy industries. Over the last decade there has been an increase in the number of dairies, feedlots and an overall increase in the number of bovine in the Magic Valley area. Because of this, there have been many attempts to address the environmental, water and air quality issues caused by the growing stockpile of animal waste.

The Dairy Industry has developed to the point where it is truly significant to Idaho’s economy. In 2002, Idaho Milk Production exceeded 8 million pounds, which placed Idaho 6th nationally. In Idaho in 2002, Milk ranked 2nd only to Beef Cattle in Cash Receipts by Commodity (the first time in 4 years that Milk was not #1).

How Rural Development Helped:
The concentration of large numbers of large dairies around large processing plants has created environmental problems that no one foresaw. One of the environmental problems that have become increasingly contentious is that of air quality. For the past several years, a wide spectrum of interested citizens and government agencies (Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Milk Producers of Idaho, Individual Dairy Farmers, All four Congressional Offices, the Governor’s Office, The Idaho House Agriculture Committee, USDA Rural Development, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Environmental Protection Agency, State Department of Agriculture, Idaho Energy Office and others) have been working on a concerted effort to resolve the dairy odor issue in the Magic Valley.

The State of Idaho Department of Commerce received a Rural Business Enterprise Grant in the amount of $25,000 to assist with the funding of a feasibility study. The study had been spearheaded by the Anaerobic Digester Working Group to assist with the dairy waste issue. The working group began seeking solutions on dairy odor issues several years ago, and in November of 2003 approached several interested parties for funding the project. The funding partners are Bonneville Power Company, Idaho Dairyman’s Association and Rural Development, and the consultant selected is Mountain View Power, Inc. The working group invested a substantial amount of time seeking a qualified consultant to work on the project and working with the funding partners to organize the project financing. In March, 2004, a Scope of Work was agreed upon by the different funding partners, applicant and the consultant and upon approval of this grant the project will move forward.

The goal of the project was to determine if a methane gas electrical generation project is financially feasible in the Magic Valley. The study addressed the large supply of dairy waste and how it can be used to produce energy in turn allowing for additional energy during peak agricultural seasons. Of critical importance to the study was the availability and reliability of the generation unit during peak power demand periods.

The Results:
The impact of the dairy industry to Idaho’s economic is significant. If successful, efforts to sustain the industry, including the RBEG-funded study, will result in the strengthening of an industry that:
Increases retail sales in Idaho by $317.8 million.
Increases Idaho Personal Income Taxes by $23.8 million.
Increases Sales Taxes by $18.3 million.
Increases Idaho Corporate Income Taxes by $3.2 million.
Affects local Property Taxes by $25.1 million.
Magic Valley, which is home to 68.9% of all cows in the State, feels the significance of the Dairy Industry even more: The impact of dairies and milk processing in the Magic Valley is comparable to 10% of total non-farm employment. The disappearance of these two industries from the Magic Valley would have the same effect in south central Idaho as the simultaneous closure of Micron and Hewlett-Packard on the Treasure Valley.

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Idaho:
Outline of Need:
In a news article dated January 24, 2005, The Times-News wrote and article about the Mill Park industrial project, with an excerpt as follows:

“Local developers hope to change all that (lack of local jobs in the City of Fairfield) with 20 acres on the west side of town designed for light industrial business. Currently none of the 37 lots in Mill Park Subdivision houses a business, but two have been sold and four reserved. Numerous other sites have potential buyers.”

Additionally, the Mayor of Fairfield noted additions to the community such as the newly constructed Senior Center, the newly constructed addition to the public school and the renovation of an existing building in downtown that will be utilized as a daycare/pre-school.

Several housing developments are in the works in the community as well, such as an additional 100 homes to the Soldier Mountain Subdivision and another potential planned development of approximately 565 condos/town homes.

How Rural Development Helped:
The City of Fairfield received a grant in the amount of $24,000 in FY 03 and $24,000 in FY 04 to fund the installation of a sewer lift station in the mill Park Industrial park in June of 2003. In 2004, a subsequent grant was approved to the City to complete the installation of the lift station. Other contributions to the Mill Park Industrial Project were provided by an Idaho Department of Commerce Gem Community Implementation Grant of $50,000 and Grantee funds of $20,500.

The added capacity afforded by the Lift Station will enable the lots to be sold or leased to private business enterprises, space that is currently in high demand in this area and the immediate surrounding counties. The ability to provide the needed space will in turn add local jobs to the economy, as industry moving into the park will most likely need to hire additional help to manufacture their products. Business locating in the industrial park will offer needed jobs to community members and add more diversity to the job market through increased industrial park space to small & emerging entrepreneurs. The project will provide a significant benefit to small and emerging businesses in both Fairfield and Camas Counties, and the immediate surrounding counties as well.

The Results:
This project could potentially create 90+ jobs when all commercial lots are sold and utilized. In addition, at least three businesses would be helped in this endeavor.

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Idaho:
Outline of Need:
Historically, the Duck Valley Reservation has had a significantly higher percentage of families below the poverty level and unemployment rate when compared with the State of Idaho. At the time of grant approval, unemployment rate on the Duck Valley Reservation was estimated at 24.7%, which was 475% of the State Rate. There are few employment opportunities available on the Reservation. It is estimated that 20% or more of those Tribal members employed are required to travel off of the Reservation for their employment. The Tribes have estimated that 95% of all Tribal members’ retail dollars leave the Reservation.

The shopping center, or mall, is a high priority among Tribal members. The RBE project has resulted in a significant contribution toward the goal of improving the conditions on the Reservation. The facility will be Tribal-owned. Initially, the grocery store will be operated by the Shoshone-Paiute Economic Development Corporation, a Tribal-owned economic development corporation. Ultimately, it is anticipated that the facility will house a variety of retail businesses, providing jobs and needed services for the Tribal members.

How Rural Development Helped:
A Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) in the amount of $91,595 was used to purchase additional equipment needed for the Duck Valley Retail Commercial Development project on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. Previous RBEG funding for this project included a $165,000 grant in 2001 for equipment and a $25,000 grant in 2003 for technical assistance.

RBEG funds were used to leverage additional funding in the amount of $2,550,000 (U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, grant in the amount of $2,000,000 to assist in project construction; HUD, Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) grant funds in the approximate amount of $550,000 to assist with project construction and other project costs). In addition, the Tribes committed land valued at $250,000 to the project.

The Results:
The facility has opened and has proven to be a valuable asset to the community. The expectation is that this project will create 19 jobs and will ultimately assist 6 businesses.

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Idaho
Outline of Need:
Over the past 3 years Bonner County and the City of Sandpoint have experienced a fundamental structural change in the economic base due to a decline in the logging industry.

How Rural Development Helped:
Unicep Packaging, Inc., a company owned by Dr. John Snedden, is located in City of Sandpoint. Dr. Snedden, a second generation Sandpoint resident and graduate of Sandpoint High School started his business in 1990 in a Sandpoint business incubator that has received Rural Business Enterprise (RBEG) assistance. In 1995, with the help of a USDA Rural Economic Development Loan made through Northern Lights, Inc., the electric cooperative in the Sandpoint area, the company constructed its initial 9,500 sq. ft. manufacturing plant, becoming the first company to “graduate” from the incubator. The business’ original focus was manufacturing professional tooth whitening products. Since then it has shifted to unit-dose packaging and expanded its product lines and manufacturing capacity to include custom packaging and contract manufacturing for medical, dental, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and industrial customers.

The RBS-guaranteed projects financed a major expansion completed in 2003, with the manufacturing facility now encompassing 64,000 square feet. Dr. Snedden and his wife own the land and building and lease the property to their business, Unicep Packaging, Inc., originally projected to create 62 additional Full Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs, the company reports that the expansion has, to-date, resulted in the creation of 68 FTE’s.

The applicant reports that the average projected wage to be received by new employees is $14 per hour plus benefits, which is 271% of the federal minimum wage. Additionally, premiums for the health, dental, life, and disability benefits are paid by Unicep Packaging, Inc. Employees may also participate in a 401(k) with Unicep Packaging, Inc., matching up to 2% of the wage plus a discretionary 2% contribution at the end of the year.

The Results:
As stated by BCEDC Executive Director Mark Williams as he presented Dr. Snedden with a plaque at the award ceremony: “Over the past three years, manufacturing jobs in our county have increased by 21 percent while Idaho has lost 14 percent and the nation 16 percent. This is particularly significant since these jobs pay 38 percent higher wage than other industries. We feel it is time to recognize the impact of these employers, and UNICEP packaging has been a shining example of job creation in the manufacturing sector.”

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Iowa:

Outline of Need:
Rural Development funds in the amount of $75,000 will be used to establish a revolving loan fund to assist small businesses destroyed in a natural gas explosion.

The Results:
As a result of this project, 16 jobs will be created and 2 businesses assisted.

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Louisiana:

Outline of Need:
Rural Development funds will be used to refurbish one of two existing mooring docks in Delcambre, Louisiana. The docks currently provide mooring space for many fishermen and shrimpers who use the Delcambre Canal for access to gulf waters. The dock is currently in a state of disrepair and will eventually discourage fishermen and shrimpers from mooring in the community – impacting not only the fishing industry in Delcambre, but local businesses along the dock area.

The Results:
As a result of this Rural Business Enterprise Grant in the amount of $150,000, proper docking will be available to fishermen, 30 jobs and 10 businesses will be saved. This project is located in the special emphasis area in the lower Mississippi Delta Initiative.

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Louisiana:
Outline of Need:
Rural Development funds in the amount of $275,000 will be used by the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana (MEPoL) to provide training and technical assistance to rural businesses throughout Louisiana. MEPoL is a University of Louisiana at Lafayette-sponsored program and one of 61 centers of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Program.

The Results:
As a result of the Rural Development funding, MEPoL will be able to help manufacturers in Louisiana improve productivity and profitability.

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Nevada:

Outline of Need:
To assist business entrepreneurs in rural Nevada and to continue supporting three rural business development counselors whose service territory covers eight of Nevada’s 17 counties covering over 50,000 square miles.

How Rural Development Helped:
The Nevada Small Business Development Center (NSBDC) requested funding in the amount of $90,090 from the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program.

The Results:
Clients assisted by the NSBDC and its rural business counselors increased from 38 in 2001 to 173 in 2003, an increase in assistance by over 350 percent. A partner of the NSBDC, the Rural Nevada Development Corporation in the form of Intermediary Re-lending Program (IRP) funding also provides business financing in the rural areas.

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New Mexico:

Outline of Need:
Tapetes De Lana Culinary Arts Center Mora, New Mexico

How Rural Development Helped:
The funds in the amount of $47,118 will assist in the completion of the construction of a certified community kitchen and equipment purchase for the kitchen in Mora, New Mexico. EZ/EC funding was used in La Jicarita EC designated area. Mora County is also a persistent poverty county.

The Results:
As a result of this action, 10 jobs will be created.

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Ohio:

Outline of Need:
Although Rural Development assisted in the establishment of a kitchen incubator in southeast Ohio several years ago, small food based business in northwest Ohio were unable to take advantage of the facility due to the distance and cost involved. Since Northwest Ohio depends heavily on agriculture and agricultural products a kitchen incubator was an ideal match for the area. The solution was to establish a second incubator that could serve businesses in the northwestern portion of the state.

How Rural Development Helped:
In partnership with other local entities the Agricultural Incubator Foundation established the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen in Wood County, Ohio. Rural Development provided a Rural Business Enterprise Grant in the amount of $99,000 to assist with purchase of kitchen equipment and to provide technical assistance to the small and emerging food processing businesses that will use the incubator.

The Results:
The incubator will provide new start ups and small existing businesses with a commercial kitchen in which to process their products until they grow large enough to purchase their own facility. It is estimated that 5 new jobs will be created on an annual basis.

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Oklahoma:

Outline of Need:
Medicine Park EDA is establishing a Revolving Loan Fund Account in the amount $99,000 that will assist small and emerging private businesses in the area. An internet service that will provide high speed internet service to Medicine Park and a motorcycle apparel store that will be expanding their business.

The Results:
Two businesses will be assisted with the initial loan funds.

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Pennsylvania:

Outline of Need:
The Business Incubator officially opened in August 2004. It is housed in an abandoned 2 story brick elementary school building that served Huntingdon for over 90 years. The Incubator building has been renovated to feature the most modern business development technology, including a Voice-over IP phone system (which allows for flexibility of use in the tenant space), proximity card security system (which allows staff to provide access to tenants only on their designated days in the facility) and state-of-the-art conference rooms and office space (with use of SmartBoards and tablet PCs). Tenant occupancy began in September 1, 2004.

JCEL has established partnerships with 38 individual service providers in Huntingdon County (including attorneys, accountants, and insurance carriers), who provide their services to Incubator tenants, as well as 24 entrepreneur mentors. Partnerships with the Life Science Greenhouse of Central PA, the Saint Francis Small Business Development Center and SCORE have also been developed. Workshops for student entrepreneurs are regularly conducted by JCEL’s Executive and Deputy Directors. The JCEL Board includes four Sponsoring Directors, each a successful entrepreneur, who bring a great deal of expertise to the program, and who also contribute $10,000 per year to support the operations of the Sill Incubator.

JCEL has launched successful marketing campaigns for its target audiences of prospective and current Juniata students, faculty and staff members at the college, as well as community residents. Radio, television, open houses and print ads have directed interested parties to the website www.jcel.biz .

The first round of presentations for Student Seed Capital occurred in February 2004. JCEL had 45 direct student inquiries into the Seed Capital program – 3 began self-funded business (working with JCEL), and 21 submitted draft business plans for funding. Over $450,000 is currently available in this Student Seed Capital fund.

In addition to these student entrepreneurs, JCEL worked with 25 community-based business visionaries to develop business plans and help them begin operations. Highlights include: Juniata Valley Watercraft, created via the combination of Juniata alumni-donated intellectual property and the business experience of a former County Commissioner; SimPlus EXP, which is developing a working relationship with an area technology institute in creating an interactive software package; work with a Juniata Biology professor in commercializing current findings related to ongoing biotech research.

How Rural Development Helped:
Through a third program, Economic Development, JCEL strengthened its relationship with USDA Rural Development, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Huntingdon County government and the local business community. JCEL provides managerial services for Huntingdon County Business and Industry, and administers the State-designated Enterprise Zone for the county. JCEL created a Memorandum of Understanding for all organization involved in economic development, and has taken the lead in creating a state of Pennsylvania Keystone Innovation Zone Partnership, which will integrate the technical and academic resources of the college with the economic development needs of the community.

USDA RD’s funding has stimulated remarkable developments for the Juniata College Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (JCEL). During the subsequent twelve months a staff of two grew to a team of four, key community partnerships were formed, the undergraduate seed capital program became a real part of the Juniata experience, and the physical location of the JCEL offices migrated from the ‘back wing of the former science center’ to the state-of-the art Sill Business Incubator. This has all laid the groundwork for an exciting and productive future for the Juniata College Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (JCEL), and an interesting partnership with USDA Rural Development.

The Results:
City of Bradford- Office of Economic & Community Development (OECD) located in McKean County, PA received a $200,000 RBEG construction grant in April 2003 to restore and renovate the old City Hall in downtown Bradford. This restoration has been a part of an ongoing downtown revitalization program for the city to create and enhance the economic growth of the community. The renovated City Hall Building will provide multi tenant lease space for small and emerging business. OECD proposes that there will be approximately 25-30 new jobs created as a result of the new lease space in the community.

Lock Haven University (LHU) located in Lock Haven; Clinton County, PA received a $99,000 RBEG technical assistance grant in May 2004 to provide support and continued technical assistance for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The SBDC provides technical and training assistance to individuals to promote improved management, production and growth in their small businesses. The training assists clients in creating successful productive businesses within their communities. Since the SBDC was established in 1996, they have assisted over 1000 clients become successful businesses. The SBDC estimates that they held to create or retain about 60 jobs each year within the community. Congressional representatives: John Peterson 5th district Senators Specter and Santorum

Pennsylvania State University (PSU) located in State College, Centre County, PA recently received a $25,000 RBEG Technical Assistance Grant in June 2004 to support and continue the technical assistance staff for the Mifflin County Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The SBDC provides technical and training assistance to individuals to promote improved management, production and growth in their small businesses. These include business consulting, seminars and other activities that will assist clients in becoming successful businesses within their communities. Since 2000 the SBDC in Mifflin County has helped to create 21 new jobs and retain 6 jobs. With continued funding they have seen an increase in requested services and they expect to have at least 29 jobs retained in the area as well as additional new jobs created.

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South Dakota:

Name of lender/borrower/grantee:
Four Bands Community Fund, Inc.

Project:
Micro Business Incubator

City and State:
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation – Eagle Butte, SD

Program/Dollar Amt./Date Closed or Obligated:
RBEG

$55,000	2005	09/12/05
$60,000	2004	09/29/04
$50,000	2002	09/26/02

RBOG

$75,000	2005	09/12/05
$95,000	2004	09/29/04
$50,000	2002	09/26/02

Description of the project:
As noted above the grantee has received several grants over the years to provide technical assistance, create a revolving loan fund, as well as educating their people on managing a business including business finances all as part of their business incubator project. This project has met many of our Agency’s objectives by providing the necessary funding to the applicant to help establish and create small and emerging private businesses in a reservation area which has historically been a high poverty and high unemployment area, thereby creating hope and opportunity to the lives of many rural American Indian families and population. Many businesses have been started as a result of this project, and better yet, even more business entrepreneurs have been given training, education, and a culture of self-determination than ever before. To learn more about this project visit the following website at www.fourbands.org/services.htm

Congressional Representation:
Senator Tim Johnson; Senator John Thune; and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth

Jobs created/saved and businesses assisted:
Jobs Created / Saved: 70; and businesses assisted: 139

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Tennessee:

Outline of Need:
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Tennessee Ag-tourism Initiative

How Rural Development Helped:
Grant funds were used to conduct a study and catalog of existing AG Tourism businesses located in the state. Once the study and catalog were complete, the state devised a promotion effort to assist these small business enterprises in promoting their operations across Tennessee.

The Results:
Project identified over 200 Ag Tourism business ventures across Tennessee in its first year of operation. Over 200 agriculture related business ventures were identified in the first year.