USDA Announces $15.3 Million in Rural Development Assistance During Visit to Mississippi

News Release

Contact: Nick Walters, (601) 965-4316
nick.walters@ms.usda.gov
Dave Hill, (202) 690-0513
david.hill@rdmail.rural.usda.gov

USDA ANNOUNCES $15.3 MILLION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE DURING VISIT TO MISSISSIPPI

COLUMBUS, Miss., August 21, 2001--The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the selection of $15.3 million in loan and grant requests to meet business opportunity needs in rural Mississippi.

"Secretary Veneman and the Bush Administration are fully committed to promoting economic development in rural Mississippi and other rural areas throughout the country," said Agriculture Under Secretary Bill Hawks after meeting with USDA Wildlife Services officials. "The money being made available to Mississippi will go a long way toward boosting Mississippi rural areas and improving the state's infrastructure needs."

Funds will be provided through the following USDA Rural Development programs: Rural Business Enterprise Grant program (RBEG), Rural Business Opportunity Grant program (RBOG), Rural Business' Business and Industry direct loan program (B&I), and Rural Business cooperative agreements.

Business

Delta Pride Catfish, Inc., Indianola, MS will receive a $9.75 million direct B&I loan for renovation and expansion. These improvements will save nearly 600 existing jobs and have a direct impact on more than 1,600 jobs in the Delta area.
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, Inc., will receive a RBEG grant of $533,900 for the construction of a sweet potato processing facility.
Lawrence County, will receive a RBEG grant of $450,000 to establish a revolving loan fund to provide technical assistance and funds to American Apparels, Inc. for machinery and equipment.
Recruitment and Training Program of Mississippi, Inc., will receive a RBOG grant of $50,000 to establish an entrepreneurial training program.
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, a $299,899 Rural Cooperative Development Grant to assist minority producers in the management, marketing, and operation of new and startup cooperatives.

Education

Alcorn State University has been selected for a cooperative agreement for $149,398 to strengthen entrepreneurship and small business development in five counties in southwest Mississippi. The counties of Adams, Claiborne, Franklin, Jefferson, and Wilkinson will utilize these funds for information technology, workshop training, counseling and managerial assistance for local businesses.

Housing

USDA Rural Housing Service (RHS) grant assistance is provided through a special demonstration program designed to assist in creating rental housing for processor workers living in areas of high unemployment within the state of Mississippi. The following is a list of grant recipients:

Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, Tchula, Miss.-$740,859 - 20 rental units.
South Delta Regional Housing Authority, Belzoni, Miss.-$1,500,000 - 22 rental units.
Hollandale Economic Development Foundation, Hollandale, Miss. - $1,200,000 - 24 rental units.
Yazoo City - $630,126 - 24 rental units.

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 programs 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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