WASHINGTON- Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development has awarded eight competitive grants totaling $537,750 to Iowa through the Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program.
“This money is expected to help small and rural businesses create jobs for Iowans and stimulate economic growth in these communities,” Grassley said.
o Dundee, $13,750 – Funds will be used to purchase a replacement city maintenance truck and related equipment.
o Grow Iowa Foundation, Greenfield, $22,221 – Funds will be used to provide technical assistance to small and emerging private businesses which will enable them to take advantage of the affordable marketing opportunity of BuyIowaOnline.com; including technical assistance to local value-added processors and the local food groups.
o The Iowa Institute, Des Moines, $52,500 – Funds will be used to create an electronic biomass asset map.
o Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University, Ames, $72,279 – Funds will be used to increase technical assistance and training opportunities for Iowa food entrepreneurs through the Regional Food Systems Working Group.
o Lorimor Community Development Corporation, Lorimor, $80,000 – Funds will be used to establish a revolving loan fund to serve the area in and around Lorimor.
o Madison County Development Group, Winterset, $99,000 – Funds will be used to establish a revolving loan fund to serve the area in and around Winterset.
o Stacyville Betterment Corporation, Stacyville, $99,000 – Funds will be used to create a revolving loan fund to assist small and emerging businesses in the Stacyville area.
o Turkey River Recreational Corridor, Postville, $99,000 – Funds will help hire a project coordinator to implement 18 projects expected to be completed in the recreational corridor.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program provides grants to public agencies, private non-profit corporations or Indian groups for needed infrastructure, to fund technical assistance needs and to establish or fund revolving loan programs for small and emerging private enterprises that have less that $1 million in revenues and fewer than 50 employees. The project must be located in an area of less than 50,000 in population.
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