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Trump Administration Invests more than $111,000 in Technical Assistance, Training Grants for Microenterprise Development Organizations

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Public Affairs
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City
Columbus
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Ohio Rural Development State Director David L. Hall today announced $111,860 in USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) grants are being awarded to help two Ohio-based Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) provide training and technical assistance to rural small businesses around the state. 

“The RMAP grant gives a helpful boost to nonprofit organizations that provide microloans and manage revolving loan funds,” said Hall. “By also supporting training and technical assistance for loan borrowers and microentrepreneurs, this grant illustrates another value-added way our Business-Cooperative Programs stand in unfaltering support of rural small businesses.

“Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Ohio in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”    

Ohio’s two awardees will use funds to support existing Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) originally provided to their organizations by USDA. The rural small businesses that will benefit from the renewal of Technical Assistance and Training grants associated with the RLFs all employ fewer than 10 full-time workers. These are independent establishments; part of the fabric of the community and local Main Street business districts.

  • Piketon-based Community Action of Pike County received $45,706
  • Franklin County-based Economic Community Development Institute (ECDI) received $66,154, much of which will support the food and service industry in the following 26 counties: Athens, Belmont, Butler, Coshocton, Crawford, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Guernsey, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Pickaway, Richland, Tuscarawas, Union, Wayne, and Wood.

 

 

Nonprofits, federally-recognized Tribes and institutions of higher learning are eligible to apply to become MDOs. Rural small businesses with 10 or fewer full-time employees located in eligible areas may apply for a loan from an MDO. Eligible areas include rural areas outside a city or town with a population of 50,000 or fewer. A borrower’s headquarters may be based anywhere in the U.S., including a larger city, as long as the businesses served are located in an eligible rural area.

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. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.