U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Senior Advisor for Rural Engagement, Delivery and Prosperity Cindy Axne today announced $3.55 million is being awarded to nine Nebraska projects to improve educational and business opportunities for rural businesses and Native American tribes.
“Rural Development is excited to partner with these community institutions of education and entrepreneurship” Axne said. “When we invest in our rural community partners, we strengthen Nebraska and expand opportunities for all the people in the state.”
The details of the projects are:
- A $199,368 grant will help expand and enhance the Makerspace Project in Thurston and Knox counties for the Center for Rural Affairs. This project will provide technical assistance for prospective and current small business owners and expand Makerspace opportunities and offerings through online training courses and a video library of how-to videos. This project is expected to assist a minimum of seven small and emerging businesses over the next three years.
- A $900,000 grant will help construct a 6,195 square foot business incubator wing on the Nebraska Indian Community College in Macy. The business incubator space will include 10 private offices, two conference/meeting rooms, two classrooms, commercial kitchen space, recording studio, and a storage room. This project is anticipated to assist a minimum of four small and emerging businesses over the next three years.
- A $278,216 grant will help complete a 10,500 square foot community facility on the Santee Campus of the Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC). The new facility will be used for education, graduations, Pow Wows, and continuing education for the community. This project will benefit enrolled students and staff at NICC, as well as the Santee and neighboring community of Niobrara.
- A $175,000 grant to the Nebraska Enterprise Fund of Omaha will help provide technical assistance to 10 existing groups and five emerging cooperative development groups.
- A $174,646 grant to the Center for Rural Affairs will help provide technical assistance in persistent poverty communities in Nebraska and Iowa. Financing will help three existing and three emerging cooperative development groups.
- A $278,216 grant will help construct a Career and Technical Education (CTE) building on the Winnebago Reservation to house a carpentry/construction program. The facility will include space for a classroom, restrooms, a break room, an office, a mechanical and tool room. The new programming will increase enrollment at Little Priest Tribal College, bring in a different demographic, and aid in fulfilling the career and technical job needs of the Winnebago Tribal Community and employers of the area.
- A $259,150 grant will help purchase food processing, preservation, and packaging equipment for the Nebraska Indian Community College in Macy. The equipment will aid the training and distribution of agricultural products produced by the students to local markets. This project is anticipated to assist four small and emerging businesses over the next three years.
- A $300,000 grant will help continue rehabilitation and construction of the Susan LaFlesche Picotte Center of Walthill. This is a multi-phase project with total investment of over $2.5 million. Funding will continue construction for the business incubator and space for business training and entrepreneurial development. There will also be business services provided including business training and technical assistance. This project is expected to assist a minimum of eight small and emerging businesses over the next three years.
- A $1,000,000 grant will help build a youth center for the Santee Sioux Nation. This new 13,850 square foot facility will be dedicated to the Nation’s youth for computer and homework assistance. The building will have meeting areas, offices, a theatre, a kitchen, and a gymnasium for basketball and volleyball.
BACKGROUND
Today’s investments are being made through several different Rural Development programs. Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG) promote economic development and job creation projects through the awarding of grant funds to eligible entities. Applications will compete in two separate categories, business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants, for use in funding various business and community projects that serve rural areas.
Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grants (SDGG) provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers.
Tribal College Initiative Grants provides funding to 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) to make capital improvements to their educational facilities and to purchase equipment.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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