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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:**

August 22, 2001 Kevin Herglotz - (202) 720-4623

Jim Brownlee - (202) 720-2091

Patrick Gross - (605) 624-7060 or

\(605\) 352-1102

**AT DAKOTAFEST, USDA SECRETARY VENEMAN HIGHLIGHTS TRADE; ANNOUNCES
\$764,000 TO S. D. IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE**

**MITCHELL -** At DakotaFest, South Dakota's largest farm show,
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today emphasized the importance of
agricultural trade to farm income and reiterated the need for Trade
Promotion Authority to ensure that American farmers can compete in
today's global marketplace.

In 1999, the state's farm cash receipts totaled \$3.5 billion. Of that
amount, \$1 billion came from export earnings supporting 15,200 jobs
both on the farm and off the farm in food processing, transportation and
manufacturing. South Dakota's top five agricultural exports in 1999 were
soybeans and products (\$316 million); feed grains and products (\$296
million); wheat and products (\$121 million); live animals and red meats
(\$99 million); sunflower seed and oil (\$95 million).

Veneman also announced the selection of \$764,000 in loan and grant
requests to meet business opportunity needs in South Dakota.

"The Bush Administration is committed to promoting economic activity and
development in rural America and improving living conditions in rural
areas. These grants and loans will go a long way toward achieving those
goals,\" said Veneman.

Funds will be provided through the following USDA Rural Development
programs: Rural Business Enterprise Grant program (RBEG), Rural Business
Opportunity Grant program (RBOG), Rural Cooperative Development Grants,
and Rural Business Rural Economic Development loans.

1.  **Value-Added Agriculture Development Center, Madison SD.** A
    \$100,000 Rural Cooperative Development Grant to provide technical
    assistance to promote the production of value-added agricultural
    products.

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1.  **Day County Champion Community** will receive an RBEG grant of
    \$99,000 to establish a revolving loan fund to assist in the
    development of emerging business enterprises.

2.  **Sturgis Industrial Expansion Corporation** will receive an RBEG
    grant of \$99,000 to establish a revolving loan fund to assist in
    the development of emerging business enterprises.

3.  **Deadwood Economic Development Corporation** will receive an RBEG
    grant of \$46,000 to establish a revolving loan fund to assist in
    the development of emerging business enterprises.

4.  **Northern Hills Community Development, Inc.,** will receive an RBOG
    grant of \$50,000 to establish help for and to assist in the
    development of emerging business enterprises.

-   **West River Electric Association** will receive a Rural Economic
    Development loan of \$220,000 for the construction of a water
    storage reservoir.

5.  **Clay-Union Electric Cooperative** will receive a Rural Economic
    Development loan of \$150,000 to remodel the Wakonda Heritage Manor
    Nursing Home.

USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural
development needs, and administers program assistance through three
agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and
Rural Utilities Service. Further information on USDA Rural Development
can be obtained by contacting any USDA Service Center or by visiting
USDA\'s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.

**-USDA-**

*The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race,
color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of
discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room
326-W, Whitten Building, 14^th^ and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal
opportunity employer.*