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USDA Rural Development Invests $500,000 to Expand Market Opportunities for Rural Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Name
Michael Frye
Phone
City
Huron
Release Date

HURON, S.D., Dec. 14, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development South Dakota State Director Nikki Gronli today announced that the Department is investing $500,000 to help create new and better market opportunities and expand essential services for rural people, business and entrepreneurs in South Dakota.

“Rural Development is working to help farmers and ranchers have a fair chance to compete and to make a living,” said Gronli. “This investment puts money back in pockets of those who provide the food for South Dakotans and when we support producer income, we’re helping rural communities prosper.”

The funding will help keep resources and wealth made by rural people right at home through affordable financing and technical assistance. It will help rural South Dakotans start businesses and allow small business owners to grow. It will also open the door to new economic opportunities for communities and people who historically have lacked access to critical resources and financing.

Today’s announcement provides funding for:

  • Value Added Agriculture Development Center, Inc. to provide technical assistance concerning a project for their 2023 project year. Value Added Agriculture Development Center, Inc. will continue to assist cooperative and mutually-owned businesses develop their business plans, become incorporated entities and help them grow their agri-businesses.
  • Central Electric Coop, Inc., which will be used to provide electric borrowers with economic development. This project will allow funds to be loaned to assist with building renovations to classrooms and gathering spaces in addition to significant campus security and technology upgrades to the Mitchell Technical Institute in Mitchell, South Dakota. The facility upgrades are needed to make changes to classrooms and lab rooms due to changing and expanding curriculum for the students and for upgrades to equipment and security systems. This project is expected to save 121 jobs.

Background:

USDA is making 242 awards through eight programs specifically designed to create economic opportunities for people and businesses in rural areas. These programs are the Biofuel Producer Relief Payments ProgramBusiness and Industry (B&I) Loan GuaranteesCommunity Facilities Guaranteed Loan ProgramRural Cooperative Development Grant Program, the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant ProgramRural Innovation Stronger Economy Grants program, the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program and the Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees.

The awards are being made in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

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.

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. For more information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/sd.

If you'd like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.