Contact: Danelle DeSmith (217) 403-6249

Joan Messina (217) 403-6248

**RURAL BUSINESS BENEFIT FROM RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING**

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- July 18, 2007 -- Douglas Wilson, Illinois director
for the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development
announced today the award of \$372,700 in Rural Business Enterprise
Grants.

"Rural Development's business and cooperative programs help rural
business owners, entrepreneurs, and agriculture producers meet the
challenges of a competitive, highly networked global economy while
creating good jobs," Wilson said. "By providing sustainable
opportunities, the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program supports
economic growth in rural Illinois communities."

The Western Illinois University Foundation received a \$74,500 grant
that will be used to educate small rural businesses in Savanna, Havana
and Stark County on how they can use the internet to expand their
businesses and to create and save jobs. With training and technical
assistance, participating businesses can learn to compete by using the
internet to operate in a way that could make them more successful.

A \$43,700 grant was awarded to the Southeastern Illinois Regional
Planning and Development Commission in Saline County. Grant funds will
be used to recapitalize the micro-lending revolving loan fund. Small
businesses can receive low-interest loans to help with start up or
expansion of their companies. In the past, the commission successfully
managed a revolving loan fund and hopes to see economic development in
the area expand in the next few years.

The City of Spring Valley, the Village of Oblong and the Spoon River
Partnership for Economic Development each received grants in the amount
of \$99,000. Grant funds will be used to establish revolving loan funds
in the local communities. Community leaders are hopeful that the
availability of affordable financing will attract new businesses and
bring economic growth to their communities. New and existing small
businesses will be able to receive low-interest financing to improve or
expand their business when a conventional loan would not be available.

A \$10,000 grant was awarded to the City of Fairbury. This grant will
allow the city to conduct a feasibility study and market analysis to
assess the potential for the construction of a motel with conference
center.

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The Rock Falls Community Development Corporation was awarded a \$22,000
grant. Rural Development funding will be used for a feasibility study to
determine if it would be viable to bring a race care museum and
entertainment center to the Rock Falls community. Funding will also be
used to assist in site selection and for the development of a business
plan.

Rural Business Enterprise Grants are provided to public bodies and
private nonprofit corporations to finance and facilitate development of
small and emerging private business enterprises in rural communities
with populations of 50,000 or less.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that
will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of
life of rural residents. Rural Development, an equal credit lender,
provides financing and technical assistance to foster growth in
homeownership, business development, and critical community and
technology infrastructure. Further information on the agency's programs
is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or on their
website at [www.rurdev.usda.gov/il](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/il).

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