The Biden-Harris administration is investing $981 million to expand market opportunities for rural businesses and entrepreneurs in 47 states, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands

WASHINGTON, December 6, 2022 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the department is investing $981 million to help create new and better market opportunities and expand essential services for people rural communities, businesses and entrepreneurs in 47 states, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

“Rural people provide the basic necessities that our country depends on,” Vilsack said. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is dedicated to helping people through job creation and expanding entrepreneurial opportunities in the rural areas where they live. The partnerships we are announcing today demonstrate USDA’s commitment to championing rural business owners and building a better future for everyone in rural America.

The funding will help keep the resources and wealth created by rural people at home through affordable financing and technical assistance. It will help rural Americans 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 not had access to essential resources and funding.

For instance:

• In Alabama, the West Dallas Water Authority will use a $268,000 loan and $788,000 grant under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantee Program to make improvements to the water system. utility water. These upgrades will provide clean, modern water service to 69 homes and a church, eliminating the need for residents to rely on individual water wells. The upgrades will also add fire hydrants, which will increase fire protection in the area. This project will benefit 3,488 rural residents of Dallas County.
• In Iowa, Woodbury County REC will use a $1,500,000 loan and $300,000 grant under the Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants Program to build a new medical clinic for Moville Area Medical Clinic Inc. .in Woodbury County. This facility will increase patient access, help healthcare professionals deliver quality healthcare, and promote employment and economic development in this rural area. This investment will also create 12 new jobs.
• In Idaho, Arsiero Air will use a $4,498,000 loan under the Rural Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program to purchase a K-1200 heavy-lift helicopter to expand its harvesting operations Of wood. The project will play a vital role in enabling Arsiero Air to access timber in otherwise inaccessible locations, thereby enabling the fulfillment of new and existing timber harvesting contracts. The project will create 18 new jobs.

Background:

The USDA awards 242 awards under eight programs specifically designed to create economic opportunity for people and businesses in rural areas. These programs are the Biofuel Producer Assistance Payment Program (PDF, 112 KB), Business and Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantees, Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program, for the development of rural cooperatives, the loans and grants program for rural economic development, rural innovation for a stronger economy. Subsidy program, the rural microentrepreneur support program and loan guarantees for water and waste disposal.

Prizes are awarded 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.

The USDA touches the lives of all Americans every day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, the USDA is transforming the US food system with greater emphasis on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe food, healthy and nutritious in all communities, creating new markets and income streams for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in clean energy infrastructure and capacity in the rural America, and committing to equity across the department by removing systemic barriers and creating a workforce that is more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunity, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This aid supports the improvement of infrastructure; Business development; lodging; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed Internet access in rural, tribal and very poor areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

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