News Release

Steve Thompson (202) 720-2446
sathomps@rdmail.rural.usda.gov

USDA ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $900,000 IN GRANTS TO DEVELOP RURAL ECONOMY

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2000 –Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced $936,712 in grants to help spur the development of new businesses and create jobs in rural areas of seven states.

“This is part of our continuing effort to ensure that all Americans enjoy our current record prosperity,” said Glickman. “Too often, some rural areas don't share fully in the fruits of a booming economy. These grants will help these communities develop their economic potential.”

Under the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program, USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service helps public entities, nonprofit corporations and cooperatives, and federally recognized Indian tribal groups finance the development of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas.

States receiving grants today include Georgia, Maine, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The largest grant of $500,000 was awarded to the George D. Aiken Resource Conservation and Development Council of Vermont to develop a statewide agri-tourism initiative. The program will focus on supporting agricultural enterprises by developing new agri-tourism markets.

A $75,000 grant was awarded to the Wisconsin Farmers Union to establish a cheese-marketing program. The grant will enable the organization to hire a marketing specialist and a financial control officer for the Wisconsin Farmers Union Specialty Cheese Co., a cooperative farmers' enterprise that seeks to expand its market for high-value specialty and gourmet cheeses.

USDA Rural Development also awarded $97,712 to the Tattnall County Development Authority in Georgia to purchase processing and storage equipment for a local vegetable grower's cooperative, the Coastal Georgia Small Farmers Cooperative Inc., a co-op of minority farmers.

A complete list of recipients follows:

Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program
First Round, Fiscal Year 2000 
State									Applicant
									  Amount


Georgia 	Tattnall County Development Authority           	$ 97,712
Maine           East Grand Snowmobile Club				$ 15,000
S. Dakota       Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation 	    	$ 99,000
Utah            Ute Indian Tribe of Uintah and Ourary          		$ 50,000
Vermont 	George D. Aiken RC&D Council                      	$500,000
Wisconsin       Wisconsin Farmers Union                         	$ 75,000
W. Virginia     Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corp.    	$100,000
								Total:	$936,712
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