Karissa Hagedorn (308) 237-3118

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# USDA Rural Development Provides Grants Promoting 

# Energy Efficiency and Value-Added Endeavors

**North Platte, Neb. December 13, 2005-**USDA Rural Development's Scot
Blehm, state director for Nebraska, presented three grant recipients
with symbolic funding checks today. The checks, totaling nearly
\$30,000, represent USDA's commitment to conserving energy and
increasing economic opportunities through the development of new
products and markets for agriculturally based products.

"USDA Rural Development energy and value-added grants help ensure the
profitability and sustainability of rural producers and businesses,"
stated Blehm. "With the dollars saved on energy and the money being kept
at home with the producers from value-added efforts, Nebraska's rural
economy will gain strength, making it possible for more rural
communities to thrive."

Check recipients include:

-   RZ Management of Ogallala received a \$16,000 planning grant to
    determine the feasibility of starting a vegetable and herb
    dehydration facility. If project proves feasible, a business and
    marketing plan will be developed.

-   Seifer Farms, LLC of Sutherland will use a \$10,000 planning grant
    to conduct a feasibility study and to develop business and marketing
    plans for the production and marketing of all natural, pasture
    raised chickens.

-   Diamond Pines, LLC of Gothenburg received \$3,690 to replace 80
    light fixtures in the Gothenburg Professional Building, increase the
    tonnage of the facility's cooling system, and to switch to an
    air-to-air heat pump. Energy costs will be reduced by 62 percent for
    a savings of \$2,470 annually.

Statewide, \$418,348 in energy grants were awarded in Fiscal Year 2005
assisting in 36 energy efficiency improvements projects and 1 renewable
energy. Value-added grants totaling \$1,113,540 assisted 16 producers in
value-added ventures. The 2002 Farm Bill made available monies for both
energy and value-added projects through the USDA Rural Development
Energy Efficiency Improvements and Renewable Energy Systems and
Value-Added Producer Grant programs. Since the beginning of these
programs, Nebraska has received nearly \$778,000 for 57 energy projects
and over \$7.7 million assisting in 54 value-added ventures.

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Energy grants are awarded to farmers, ranchers, and for-profit small
rural businesses for renewable energy systems such as wind, solar,
biomass, biogas, or geothermal sources or hydrogen derived from biomass
or water using wind, solar, or geothermal energy sources; and for energy
efficiency improvement projects such as improvements to HVAC systems,
insulation, refrigeration, lighting, pumping systems, air systems, motor
systems, irrigation systems, etc.

Value-added grants help producers to expand the customer base for their
commodities through a value-added activity that allows producers to
retain a greater profit in the marketplace.

For additional information contact Karissa Hagedorn, 4009 North 6^th^
Avenue, Suite 1, Kearney, Neb. 68845, karissa.hagedorn@ne.usda.gov,
(308) 237-3118; (402) 437-5093 (TDY). Visit
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/.

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"USDA Rural Development is an Equal Opportunity provider, employer and
lender." To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director,
Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington D.C.
20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).