USDA Area Director Joel Howard joined Camden/Benton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sara Kilgore to celebrate a Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) that will assist the Chamber with technology upgrades and marketing material purchases for the organization.
“USDA-RD is proud to assist with half of the Chamber’s project costs upgrading its IT equipment,” Howard said. “The new equipment will be an asset to the Chamber for promoting both economic and community development for all of Benton County.”
The Chamber received a $3,500 grant that will support with marketing material purchases such as equipment and software for the Chamber to work with local businesses and promote Benton County to tourists and potential companies looking to expand or locate in the area. The project’s total cost is $7,000.
Benton County is one of 53 counties in Tennessee benefiting from USDA’s StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity, and the RBDG program is designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas to grow local economies.
Others participating in the event include State Representative Tim Wirgau, Benton County Mayor Barry Barnett, Congressman Stephen Fincher’s Representative Heather Waggoner, TVA’s Chuck Marquis, and RD Area Specialist Tyler Hayes.
USDA Rural Development is moving investments to rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty. Since 2009, the agency has assisted more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 230 communities in all 95 counties of Tennessee, investing more than $5.4 Billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees, and grants.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Northwest Tennessee contact the Union City Area Office at 731-885-6480 x 4. Visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.