JACKSON, Jan. 29th, 2024 – State Director Dr. Trina N. George today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded grants totaling $803,352 to five projects in Mississippi under the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program.
“Our Rural Business Development Grant program provides a great opportunity for small businesses to grow and for communities to create more jobs,” said George. “Small businesses are the backbone of rural communities, and this program helps ensure our local economies thrive by giving local business owners the support they need.”
The Rural Business Development Grant program provides funding to small and emerging businesses in rural areas. Projects must be consistent with local community and economic development strategic plans. They must also support other economic development activities in the surrounding community.
Funds may be used to establish business support centers or to finance job training and leadership development in rural areas. They may also be used to repair or modernize buildings; finance feasibility studies or business plans; or purchase equipment to lease to small or emerging businesses.
Examples of projects recently funded in Mississippi include:
- The Chickasaw Development Foundation will use an investment of $282,384 to renovate and restore a classic bank building in downtown Houston, Mississippi. The renovation will provide office spaces for profit and nonprofit businesses, as well as options for retail or clinical spaces. Chickasaw Development Foundation’s new facility provide space for local businesses and will save jobs while also creating 13 new jobs after project completion.
- Glendora Economic and Community Development, Inc. will use an investment of $250,000 to provide certified training in the telecommunications construction industry to expand broadband growth for small businesses in Tunica, Maben, and Glendora, Mississippi.
- Tougaloo College’s Research and Development Center will use an investment of $215,050 to provide training and technical assistance to disadvantaged businesses with business infrastructure, education, and revenue streams to access capital for business operations in Adams, Claiborne, Jefferson, and Wilkinson counties in Mississippi.
Applications for the latest round of funding are now being accepted. Applications must be submitted to the nearest USDA Rural Development state office where the project is located by 4:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 28, 2024. For more information, visit Grants.gov or see page 84123 of the Dec. 4, 2023, Federal Register.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs 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 areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.