News Release from USDA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Oct. 28, 2010 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that USDA has selected recipients in 36 states to receive funds to make loans to boost small business development, create jobs, and strengthen rural communities. The Deputy Secretary made the announcement in Lexington, Kentucky, with one of the recipients. The funding is being provided through the Rural Microentreprenuer Assistance Program (RMAP), which was authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill).
“This program provides direct support for small business formation and offers technical assistance and training to small rural businesses,” Merrigan said. “This initiative continues the effort of the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural communities. In many cases, an entrepreneur needs only a small amount of money, a microloan, to get started. This program creates opportunities for small businesses to prosper by giving them access to capital and it also helps to create new off-farm income opportunities that help to support owners of small and mid-sized farm operations.
In Lexington, Community Ventures Corporation was selected to receive a $500,000 loan and a $105,000 grant to provide financial and technical assistance and training to rural microentrepreneurs. The organization serves rural businesses in 10 counties that have been designated as Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) communities, which are characterized by high unemployment rates, poverty and low per capita income.
The Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation in London, Ky. was selected to receive a $500,000 loan and a $100,000 grant to provide employment opportunities in southeastern Kentucky through investments, training and management assistance. The corporation has administered micro-loans funds since 1992.
Merrigan said microlending programs can make a substantial difference by leveraging comparatively small amounts of money. For example, earlier this year she visited Momence, Ill, a town of about 3,000 located 50 miles south of Chicago. Merrigan toured several businesses that received financing thanks to a $100,000 USDA grant provided to “Main Street Momence,” a preservation and volunteer based economic development program, to help establish a revolving, low-interest loan fund. So far, four businesses have taken out small loans. As a result, these businesses have created 27 new full time jobs and saved another 21 positions.
The purpose of RMAP is to support the creation, development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises. Under the program direct loans and grants are made to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs). The MDO uses the loan funds to establish, or recapitalize an RMAP-funded rural microloan revolving fund.
Eligible applicants may include microenterprises defined as a sole proprietorship located in a rural area or a business entity, located in a rural area, employing 10 people or fewer that are in need of $50,000 or less in business capital and/or in need of business based technical assistance and training. A microentrepreneur is defined as an owner and operator, or prospective owner and operator, of a microenterprise who is unable to obtain sufficient training, technical assistance, or credit other than under the RMAP. For more information visit the RMAP website.
See the complete list of the 75 organizations that have been selected to receive funding under RMAP. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant and loan agreement.
Selected Appalachian regional grantees:
Georgia
* Appalachian Community Enterprises, Inc. – $500,000 loan; $105,000 grant
* Small Business Assistance Corporation – $400,000 loan; $100,000 grant
Illinois
* Southern Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission – $300,000 loan; $25,000 grant
* Southern Five Development Corporation – $500,000 loan; $105,000 grant
* Southern Illinois Coal Belt Champion Community, Inc. –$500,000 loan; $105,000 grant
* Stark County Economic Development Partnership – $150,000 loan; $37,500 grant
Kentucky
* Community Ventures Corporation– $500,000 loan; $105,000 grant
* Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation – $500,000 loan; $100,000 grant
North Carolina
* North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center – $130,000 grant
* Mountain Microenterprise Fund–$500,000 loan; $105,000 grant
Ohio
* The Ohio State University – $130,000 grant
Pennsylvania
* Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation –$300,000 loan
* Community First Fund –$400,000 loan; $100,000 grant
* Fay-Penn Economic Development Council – $500,000 loan; $105,000 grant
* Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation –$100,000 loan; $25,000 grant
* MetroAction , Inc.–$300,000 loan; $75,000 grant
* Saint Francis University – $85,000 grant
South Carolina
* Appalachian Development Corporation (ADC) – $400,000 loan; $100,000 grant
Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi
* Alt. Consulting – $400,000 loan; $100,000 grant
Virginia
* Middle Peninsula Business Development Partnership – $70,000 grant
* People Incorporated Financial Services – $500,000 loan; $100,000 grant
* Staunton Creative Community Fund – $50,000 grant
* Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation & Rural Sustainability – $99,500 grant
West Virginia
* Mountain CAP of WV, Inc. – $500,000 loan; $104,106 grant
Through its Rural Development mission area, USDA administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in the nation’s capital and 500 state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers, and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $142 billion in loans and loan guarantees.
