Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded nearly $20 million through 385 grants to help support the start-up or expansion of rural small businesses. Five of the grants totaling $321,000 are being awarded to organizations serving rural Iowans.
“These grants will strengthen the economic fabric of our rural small towns and communities by providing capital to small and emerging businesses,” Vilsack said today during a visit to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
USDA is awarding the grants through the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program. Recipients may use the funds to provide technical assistance, training and job-creation activities.
Iowa projects include:
- University of Northern Iowa Institute for Decision Making (Cedar Falls) - $32,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study to how incorporating food hubs into rural grocery stores can help prevent and absolve food deserts in rural Iowa.
- Charles City Area Development Corporation (Charles City) - $26,270 grant to develop an industrial site analysis to assist expansion and location efforts of small and emerging businesses in Charles City.
- Estherville Industrial Development (Estherville) - $25,000 grant to establish a revolving loan fund to assist smaller and emerging businesses in Emmett County.
- Indian Hills Community College (Ottumwa) - $40,820 grant to provide technical assistance and training to small and emerging businesses in southeast Iowa.
- O’Brien County Economic Development Corporation (Primghar) - $196,910 grant to establish a revolving loan fund to assist small and emerging businesses in O’Brien County.
Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grant Program is one of several that support rural economic development. Since the start of the Obama administration, USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service has helped 85,000 rural businesses.
USDA Rural Development’s funding continues to have a dramatic impact on rural communities across Iowa. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has invested more than $3 billion on essential public facilities, small and emerging businesses, water and sewer systems, and housing opportunities for Iowa families.
USDA Rural Development can help rural communities and regions grow and prosper by offering a variety of financial and technical assistance programs that encourage the development of strong community and economic development strategies.
This past year USDA Rural Development’s investment in Iowa helped create or retain more than 1,000 jobs, aided 2,400 families in buying their own homes and assisted more than 50 communities as they made improvements to their facilities, services and infrastructure.
Contact USDA Rural Development
For more information about finance programs available through USDA Rural Development, please call (515) 284-4663 or visit the agency’s web site at www.rd.usda.gov/ia.
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a State Office in Des Moines, along with Area Offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.
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