Trump Administration Invest $205,000 in Rural Business Development Grants in Rural Pennsylvania
Investment to Help Provide Technical Assistance and Training for Small Rural Businesses
Harrisburg, PA., Aug. 18, 2020 – The Trump Administration along with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Curt Coccodrilli today announced that USDA is investing $205,000 to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses in rural Pennsylvania. USDA is providing the funding through the Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG).
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, I am privileged to announce these vital funding in rural Pennsylvania. Investments like this are paramount to the goals of President Trump set forth in his Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. This investment will help retain and grow the workforce. It is truly an honor to give back to the communities and help those seeking family sustaining jobs throughout this remarkable region.,” said Curt Coccodrilli, PA State Director. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Pennsylvania in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Recipients can use RBDG funding on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas. The funding can also be used for training, technical assistance, acquisition or development of land, pollution control, distance adult learning for job training and advancement.
In Pennsylvania:
- SEDA Council of Governments located in an Opportunity Zone in Lewisburg, Pa. was awarded $84,000 and will be used to fund a market study for a proposed natural gas synthesis plant anticipated to be located in a Federally qualified Opportunity Zone in Clinton County. The project would support the proposed KeyState Agri-Natural Gas Synthesis Plant which is anticipated will provide natural gas feedstock for the production of hydrogen, nitrogen, and ammonia for industrial, medical, agricultural, and transportation uses.
- Kane Area Industrial Development Corporation located in Kane, Pa. was awarded $99,000 and will be used to provide funding to Franklin Industrial & Commercial Development Authority to replace and make necessary repairs to approximately 10,000 square feet of commercial roofing on the main building of its rural business incubator, Venango Area Industrial Complex.
- The Foundation for Sustainable Forests located in Spartansburg, Pa. was awarded $22,000 and will be used to acquire a 15-acre right-of-way, referred to as the “Sugar Creek Access to Thompsons Woods”, which is a 179-acre working forest in underserved Crawford County that has been protected by the Foundation for Sustainable Forests in perpetuity. Once acquired, funds will also be used to make repairs to the existing driveway access.
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.
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
If you would like to schedule an interview with State Director Curt Coccodrilli, please contact Amber Albright at 717-237-2295 or Amber.Albright@usda.gov.
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