1890s Land Grant Institutions
to use USDA funds to promote
business growth, new jobs
ifteen 1890s Land Grant
Universities are receiving
nearly $1.8 million in
business and technology
development assistance
from USDA Rural Development.
These funds will provide outreach and
technical assistance in developing new
businesses, including cooperatives, and
to create employment opportunities in
under-served rural communities, and
to promote use of Rural Development
programs.
“USDA’s partnership with 1890
Institutions is critical to the development
of new business opportunities in
under-served areas and supports
President Bush’s economic plan to create
jobs in rural America,” said
Agriculture Secretary Ann M.
Veneman. “I commend the 1890
Institutions for placing a priority on
integrating new technologies into local
business initiatives. It is critical to the
ability of entrepreneurs to compete
domestically and globally.”
The 1890 Institutions have some of
the best agricultural science and business
education programs in the nation.
Through the cooperative agreement,
USDA will be building upon the
strength of these programs to ensure
that quality education related to small
business development is also available
in these communities.
“Underserved communities and
businesses are benefiting from the
effort to match up the technical and
financial resources of USDA Rural
Development with the technical business
expertise at the 1890 Institutions,”
said Agriculture Acting Under Secretary
for Rural Development Gilbert
Gonzalez.
Gonzalez said that USDA has a
strong track record of support for such
1890 initiatives and cited two examples
of how the funds have created new
economic opportunity and improved
the quality of life for residents in economically
challenged communities.
For example, the Center for Rural Life
and Economic Development at Alcorn
State University Entrepreneurial
Outreach program has provided training
and technical assistance to individuals
in business and planning to start
new businesses in its five-county area
of Southwest Mississippi. In addition
to the awards listed below, $75,000
grants were issued to: North Carolina
A&T State University; Tennessee State
University; Virginia State University,
and West Virginia State University.
Other funds have been allocated for
the following projects:
- Tuskegee University in Tuskegee,
Ala.—$150,000 for strengthening
entrepreneurial and business development
activities in the Alabama Black
Belt counties and other targeted communities
by providing business economic
development training, technical
assistance and develop information
technology for business and rural
development.
- University of Maryland-Eastern
Shore in Princess Anne, Md.—
$125,000 to conduct outreach and provide
technical assistance to develop
entrepreneurs and businesses, including
cooperatives. Funds will be used to
develop a micro-lending program and
develop and train micro-enterprise
businesses in business operations and
e-commerce in cooperation with Maryland
Capital Enterprises, a non-profit
organization. Additionally, funds will
be used to develop a network of hydroponic
greenhouse growers.
- Southern University in Baton
Rouge, La.—$150,000 to provide the
residents in four rural communities
and parishes (counties) with essential
technical and financial services assistance
through conducting seminars,
entrepreneurial conferences, and provide
information technology training
and support services.
- University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
in Pine Bluff, Ark.—$135,000 to be
used to provide outreach and technical
assistance to develop entrepreneurs
and businesses, including cooperatives.
Funds will be used to focus on the creation
of business enterprises that
develop and/or utilize technologybased
products and services, along with
implementation of a business support
incubator to house 12 to 15 new or
start-up businesses.
- Fort Valley State University in
Fort Valley, Ga.—$150,000 to provide
services for expansion and enhancement
of economic development, creation
of new business and cooperative
development opportunities, community
development and revitalization,
tourism and increased usage of computer
technology.
- Delaware State University in
Dover, Del.—$150,000 to provide sustainable
business and economic development
efforts that meet community
needs and assist in enhancing the quality
of life, wealth creation and employment
opportunities that will serve as a
catalyst for community revitalization.
- Prairie View A&M University in
Prairie View, Texas—$115,792 to focus
on business start-up and expansion in
13 targeted rural counties. Funds will
also be used to provide technology
outreach services in the form of onsight,
on-hand internet/economic
development seminars and to continue
to provide entrepreneurship education
to primarily Hispanic and African-
American youth.
- Alcorn State University in Alcorn,
Miss.—$149,608 for support and
enhancement of the program
“Strengthening Entrepreneurship and
Small Business in Five Counties
(Adams, Claiborne, Franklin, Jefferson
and Wilkinson) of Southwest
Mississippi.”
- Langston University in Langston,
Okla.—$149,600 for strengthening and
growing rural enterprises in underserved
communities; bringing to rural
entrepreneurs information about programs
and services available through
USDA by conducting seminars, symposiums,
workshops and community
meetings. Funds will also assist and
support business development and
growth through counseling, business
planning, grant writing and loan packaging
preparation.
- Florida A&M University in
Tallahassee, Fla.—$100,000 to implement
business and economic development
outreach service to eight selected
rural counties in North Florida who
have the most economic need and to
establish long-term and sustainable
economic and business growth.
- South Carolina State University in
Orangeburg, S.C.—$125,000 to provide
business consulting in the area of marketing,
customer service, human
resource development, business management,
accounting, bookkeeping,
finance, and international trade. In
addition, funds will be used to work
with community youths to promote and
encourage future entrepreneurship.
