The Trump Administration today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $24,000 in the Utah Main Street Pilot Project, which will support two rural communities as they make efforts to improve the economies of their respective main street districts.
“A town’s main street can be a place of humming economic prosperity given the right resources,” said Randy Parker, Utah State Director for USDA Rural Development. “With today’s investment USDA supports job creation, economic recovery, and growth in our state’s rural cities and towns.”
USDA Rural Development’s funding partners with other investments made by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, The Utah Office of Tourism, Utah Department of Transportation, the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts, and the State Historic Preservation Office to implement a shared plan intent on revitalizing rural main streets. The communities piloting the Utah Main Street Pilot Project are Brigham City and Price. These two rural cities will participate in the creation of strategies to revitalize or strengthen their downtown districts.
This project is funded through the Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG), intended to benefit specific small and/or emerging businesses in rural areas and promote sustainable economic development in rural communities.
Three additional projects received RBDG funding this year.
- The Southeastern Utah Business and Technical Center is receiving $50,000 to renovate existing kitchen space to be leasable as a commercial kitchen. There are currently no facilities such as this available within the region. The creation of one will provide opportunities for economic growth and innovation.
- Utah State University will use $50,000 to conduct a study with the intent to assist rural food entrepreneurs as they contribute to local-level economic development in Garfield County.
- Brigham City Corporation is receiving $50,000 to make essential repairs to the kitchen of the historic Brigham Academy Center. The Center includes a commercial kitchen where local entrepreneurs can prepare their food products to sell.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, interested parties should contact the Utah state office.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ut.