USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Tonsager Announces Recipients of Rural Business Enterprise Grants

USDA Support Will Help Create Jobs and Economic Opportunity in Rural Areas

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2010 – USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager today announced that 45 states, the Western Pacific region and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico will benefit from funding made available under the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program (RBEG).

“The funding announced today represents the Obama Administration's ongoing efforts to create economic and job opportunities in rural areas by ensuring that strategic investments are made in our small towns and cities,” Tonsager said “Rural businesses drive community revitalization by providing products and services to local residents as well as throughout the country and world. Projects like these spur important economic development and strengthen communities across the nation.”

The RBEG program helps to finance and facilitate the development of new and existing businesses in rural America. Funds can be used for start-up and working capital loans, building and plant renovations, transportation improvements, project planning and other business needs.

More information about this program is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_rbeg.html

Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreement, and is not provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The following is a complete list of South Carolina organizations that have been selected to receive RBEG grants. A total of 61 awards were announced.

South Carolina

• Southern Carolina Regional Development Alliance - $199,900 grant to provide technical assistance and training programs to improve economic and workforce development in a four-county area of SC. They will contract with the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie Leadership Institute (USCSLI) to assist them in carrying out these initiatives. USDA funds are expected to help 20 businesses; create 20 jobs and retain 507 jobs.

• Carolina Foothills Artisan Center - $90,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study of the potential arts and heritage product market for the expansion of tourism through development of an Artisan Center in communities in an eight county area (Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union). This project will create an anticipated 100 jobs.