News Release
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News Release |
Contact: Kevin Herglotz, (202) 720-4623
kevin.herglotz@usda.gov
Tim McNeilly, (202) 690-0498
tmcneill@rdmail.rural.usda.gov
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY ANNOUNCES $3.65 MILLION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE DURING VISIT TO GEORGIA
USDA To Assist With Housing, Education, Business, Electric and Waste Water Needs
ATHENS, GEORGIA, August 16, 2001--Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the selection of $3.65 million in loan and grant requests to meet business, housing, and electric and waste water infrastructure needs throughout rural Georgia.
“Today, as we talk about the future of agriculture, we must recognize the important role rural entrepreneurs, farmers, and ranchers continue to play in boosting our rural economy,” said Veneman. “A major key to economic viability is to assist rural communities with infrastructure needs.”
Education
Electric and Waste Water Infrastructure
The City of Crawfordville (Taliaferro County) has been approved to receive $1.6 million in loan and grant funds for renovations and improvements to the city’s aging sewer system. In addition to the USDA funds, a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant will be provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Improvements will benefit 233 residential customers and a new charter school (200-250 students) scheduled to open in the fall of 2001.
A $1.2 million loan guarantee to the Federal Financing Bank (FFB) for Middle Georgia Electric Membership Corporation in Vienna, Georgia has been approved to upgrade electric service to rural areas of Georgia. The loan guarantee will allow Middle Georgia Electric Membership Corporation to build 40 miles of new distribution line, make system improvements allowing service to be extended to 578 new consumers.
Business
Three rural business and community development proposals will receive $56,547 in grant and $400,000 in loan funds, designed to assist in the fostering of economic development. Approximately 160 jobs are expected to be created as a result of funds provided through two USDA Rural Development programs: the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program and the Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) program.
Five Star Nursery Growers Cooperative has been chosen to receive a $6,547 RBOG to provide technical assistance for marketing nursery production.
Bulloch County has been chosen to receive a $50,000 RBOG to develop a construction plan for an agricultural complex.
Colquitt Electric Membership Corporation has been chosen to receive a $400,000 REDLG (loan) to renovate a vacant building in the city of Moultrie by the Joint Development Authority of Colquitt, Thomas, Grady, Mitchell, and Brooks Counties, for lease to Farmland National Beef.
Housing
$255,222 in grants will assist rural Georgians with needed home repairs and improvements. Grant recipients will combine USDA grant funds with other funding sources to provide assistance to homeowners in 32 counties in Georgia.
Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc. - $127,611 grant
Purpose: To provide 25 very-low or low income households with financial assistance to rehabilitate or repair their homes.
Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, Inc. - $127,611 grant
Purpose: To provide 35 very-low income households with financial assistance to rehabilitate or repair their homes.
USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural development needs, and administers program assistance through three agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service. Further information on USDA Rural Development can be obtained by contacting any USDA Service Center or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
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