Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384

**USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT AWARDS \$6.3 MILLION IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
GRANTS**

WASHINGTON, September 9, 2008 \-- Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural
Development Thomas C. Dorr today announced that 35 groups in 25 states
have been selected to receive \$6.3 million in training and technical
assistance grants through the Rural Community Development Initiative
program.

"These grants help people attract and retain investments in rural
communities," Dorr said. "They fund entrepreneurship training,
leadership development and other efforts to help business and community
leaders expand their local economies and create jobs."

The grants will be awarded to intermediaries to develop their capacity
to undertake housing, community facilities and economic development
projects. In South Dakota, the Northeast South Dakota Community Action
Program in Sisseton has been selected to receive a \$261,475 grant to
provide technical assistance to recipients for new and expanded services
to their beneficiaries by building their capacity in housing, community
facilities, economic development programs and programming.

Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the
conditions of the award agreement. Below is a complete list of grant
recipients.

Rural Community Development Initiative grants

  ----------- ------------------------------------------------- ---------------
  **State**   **Recipient**                                     **Grant
                                                                Amount**

  CA          California Coalition for Rural Housing            \$136,000

  CA          Rural Community Assistance Corp.                  \$200,000

  CA          Siskiyou County Economic Development Council      \$150,000

  DC          Housing Assistance Council                        \$261,475

  DE          NeighborWorks America                             \$109,976

  DE          National Council on Agricultural Life & Labor     \$247,217
              Research Fund Inc.                                

  GA          The University of Georgia                         \$85,000

  HI          Myerberg Shain & Associates                       \$261,475

  IA          Iowa Department of Economic Development           \$261,475

  IA          Iowa League of RC&Ds Inc.                         \$261,475

  ID          Ida-Ore Planning and Development Associations     \$52,660
              Inc.                                              

  IL          Office of Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn             \$219,800

  IN          Indiana Association for Community Economic        \$200,000
              Development                                       

  KS          Kansas State University Center for Engagement and \$81,484
              Community Development                             

  KY          Community Action Kentucky Inc.                    \$75,000

  LA          Northeast Louisiana Economic Alliance             \$261,475

  MA          Capital Link Inc.                                 \$261,475

  MA          YouthBuild USA Inc.                               \$261,475

  ME          Penquis CAP Inc.                                  \$57,860

  ME          Western Maine Community Action Inc.               \$261,475

  ME          Piscataquis County Economic Development Council   \$137,769

  MN          Minnesota Housing Partnership                     \$200,000

  MN          Greater Minnesota Housing Fund                    \$261,475

  NE          Nebraska Community Foundation                     124,000

  NH          North County Council Inc.                         \$105,000

  NY          Local Initiatives Support Corp.                   \$156,000

  OH          WSOS Community Action Commission Inc.             \$261,475

  OK          Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma Inc.                \$125,000

  OH          Ohio ValleyRegional Development Commission        \$108,000

  SD          Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program   \$261,475

  TN          Technology 2020                                   \$261,475

  UT          San Juan County Economic Development Office       \$105,700

  VA          Virginia Economic Development Partnership         \$120,000

  WA          Hamilton Public Development Authority             \$60,000

  WI          Northwoods Nijii Enterprise Community             \$261,475
  ----------- ------------------------------------------------- ---------------

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 \$90 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 1.7 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 Rural
Development's web site at
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/) .

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