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Tammi Schone - (605) 352-1102

# EXTRAORDINARY YEAR FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH DAKOTA [\$259 Million Invested in Rural South Dakota]{.underline}

**(Huron, SD -- November 8, 2007)** USDA Rural Development State
Director Mike Jaspers announced that the agency had all-time high record
breaking level of funding delivered to South Dakota during Fiscal Year
2007. With the cooperation of its partners, USDA Rural Development
administered over \$259 million in program funding benefiting South
Dakota during the recently completed 2007 Fiscal Year.

"The impact of the funds we invested in businesses, essential
infrastructure and housing will continue to impact people's lives and
livelihoods for many years to come," said Jaspers. "The efforts of USDA
Rural Development employees is recognized and appreciated has they
worked with our partners in both the private and public sector to allow
tax payer dollars to return to South Dakota and to be invested in our
state to benefit all of South Dakota."

Program highlights include 1,447 jobs created and 923 saved with the
utilization of \$108.8 million utilized in the rural business and
cooperative program area; serving 2,471 families with the utilization of
\$112.9 million in the rural housing program area; and 10,698 new water
users and 57 community facilities have been helped with the investment
of \$37.5 million from the community programs area.

USDA Rural Development is proud to deliver this level of program funding
to South Dakota. Agency programs support creating more affordable
housing, assist in financing of needed rural health care facilities, and
help promote the development of important local businesses. With the
help of many partners, and the support of South Dakota's congressional
delegation, these programs assist local economic development efforts and
enhance the quality of life for South Dakotans.

"USDA Rural Development is the one federal agency that can build a
community from the ground up and continues to position itself as a
'lender of first opportunity' in South Dakota," commented Jaspers. USDA
Rural Development administers federal programs in housing, business
assistance, community facility financing, water and waste infrastructure
for rural communities and other technical assistance through offices
across South Dakota with 72 full time employees.

Rural Development provides valuable loan and grant programs and
technical assistance to increase economic opportunity and improve the
quality of life for rural residents, as well as finance and foster
growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community
and technology infrastructure. Rural Development invested more than
\$259 million in fiscal year 2007 and \$1.9 billion over the past 10
years in South Dakota's economy.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and
improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has
invested more than \$76.8 billion since 2001 for equity and technical
assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business
development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More
than 1.5 million jobs have been created or saved through these
investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a
local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at
[[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov]{.underline}](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/).

**- USDA -**