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USDA Announces Grants to Support Start-up, Expansion of Small, Rural Kentucky Businesses

Name
Katherine Belcher
City
Pine Ridge
Release Date

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded nearly $20 million through 385 grants to help support the start-up or expansion of rural small businesses.

“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.
 
Tom Fern, Kentucky State Director for Rural Development, said the Ohio County Fiscal Court in Hartford is receiving a $99,000 grant to establish a revolving loan fund that will be used to assist small emerging businesses in the area.

“Investing in small, rural businesses is essential to the economic revitalization of small rural communities,” said Fern. “The funding announced today will help support the Obama Administration’s vision by providing rural communities with resources to support small businesses and encourage job creation.”
 
While Secretary Vilsack was in South Dakota, he highlighted USDA’s work to expand economic opportunities for Native Americans and rural residents throughout the state. For example, he announced that the Oglala Sioux Tribe is receiving a $1.85 million grant to construct a storage building and cell for a solid waste landfill.
 
Other RBDG recipients in Kentucky include Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, City of Whitesburg, Murray State University, Center for Rural Development, Eastern Kentucky University and Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen.

Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.

USDA’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.
 
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.