STEVENS POINT, Wisc., May 1, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa today announced that USDA is funding 18 projects related to infrastructure upgrades and clean energy projects in rural and Tribal communities participating in the Rural Partners Network (RPN) in Wisconsin.
“Two years ago, the Biden-Harris Administration and USDA launched the Rural Partners Network to help rural communities access their fair share of federal resources,” said Lassa. “RPN is about removing barriers and building relationships with people and businesses located in rural areas so they can find the resources and funding to create jobs, build infrastructure and support long-term economic vitality on their own terms.” [Audio: Mp3, 23 seconds, 555KB]
USDA is awarding approximately $3,372,703 in grants to support 18 projects that will help Wisconsin RPN communities address immediate needs and carry out long-term strategies for economic growth and stability. Several of the projects will create jobs and expand business opportunities.
In Wisconsin:
- Laona Rescue Unit Inc. in Forest County received a $2,093,000 Community Facilities grant to design and build a new emergency services station. The building will house six ambulances and enable first responders to provide improved service to six townships and the Forest County Potawatomi Reservation. A ribbon cutting will be held on-site on May 23, 2024.
- Peter Hanson, a farmer in Bloomer, will use a $339,701 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to install an energy efficient grain dryer, saving the farm $13,000 in electrical costs per year.
- Hilger Farms Incorporated in Bloomer will use a $181,527 REAP grant to install a more energy efficient grain dryer, saving the farm $8,987 per year.
- Wisconsin Truss Incorporated in Cornell will use a $132,770 REAP grant to install a solar electric array and is expected to save the rural small business $14,928 per year.
- Rella’s Way Century Farm in Granton will use a $97,500 REAP grant to install an energy efficient grain dryer, saving the farm nearly $7,500 per year.
- Poeschel Hidden Valley LLC in Durand will use a $97,350 REAP grant to purchase and install a more energy-efficient grain dryer, saving the producer $5,422 per year in electrical costs.
- Fanetti Farms LLC in Bloomer will use a $60,525 REAP grant towards the installation of a grain drying system, saving the farm $5,900 in electrical costs per year.
- Scotch Prairie Farms Incorporated in Galesville will use a $58,342 REAP grant to install a 40-kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar array, saving the corn farming operation $5,378 per year.
- Eau Claire Sawyer and Lumber Company in Eau Claire will use a $57,129 REAP grant to purchase and install a small solar array, saving the business $2,400 per year.
- James Rundquist, a cattle farmer in Stockholm, will use a $53,860 REAP grant to install a 41kW roof mount solar array, saving $4,481 in electrical costs per year.
- David Bauer, a farmer in Durand, will use a $46,937 REAP grant to install a solar array, saving the farming operation $5,669 per year.
- Genstart LLC in Trempealeau will use a $32,689 REAP grant to replace a diesel irrigation pump motor with a more efficient electric pump, saving the rural small business $11,458 per year.
- Reedy Concrete Construction Incorporated in Galesville will use a $28,314 REAP grant to install a solar electric array, saving the rural small business $4,901 per year.
- Northwoods Dentistry in Phillips will use a $28,101 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array, saving the business more than $5,000 per year in electrical costs.
- Richard Loos, a farmer in Loyal, will use a $17,801 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array, saving the farm $722 in electrical costs per year.
- Kory Peterson dba West Creek Event Center in Eau Claire will use a $17,131 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array, saving the small business $1,116 per year.
- Home Again Adult Family Home Incorporated in New Auburn will use a $15,310 REAP grant install a roof mount sola electric array, saving the adult care facility $1,419 in electrical costs per year.
- Vicki Berger, a rural business owner in Strum, will use a $14,716 REAP grant towards the installation of a small solar electric array, saving the company $1,426 per year in electrical costs.
This announcement marks two years since the Biden-Harris Administration launched RPN to ensure people in historically underserved communities receive their fair share of funding from federal agencies. Since its launch, USDA has provided more than $1 billion to support approximately 4,700 economic development projects in RPN communities.
The funding recently announced by USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small will support RPN communities in Alaska, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico. One project also will benefit communities in South Carolina.
Background: Rural Partners Network
Launched in April 2022 and expanded to Wisconsin in November 2022, RPN is now active in 36 community networks in 10 states and Puerto Rico.
Community networks receive support from full-time USDA staff who provide technical assistance based on each community’s needs, helping them navigate federal programs, build relationships, and apply for funding. In addition to USDA staff, there are staff at 24 other federal agencies supporting RPN and making resources across the government easier to access for people in rural communities. For more information on RPN, visit Rural.gov.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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