USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING ASSISTS WITH MARKET ON MAIN BUILDING PROJECT IN OTTUMWA
$62,676 USDA Grant Will Help With Business Development Opportunities for Indoor Farmers’ Market
Ottumwa, IA – August 13, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the Market to Main building project in Ottumwa. The building will allow for an indoor farmers’ market to operate year round in a new 12,000-square-foot facility, providing a consistent outlet for local producers and eliminating the community’s food desert status.
A $62,676 USDA Rural Development Business Enterprise Grant will assist with building construction costs, as well as the purchase of equipment in the educational and commercial kitchen areas of the facility to expand rural-based entrepreneurship opportunities.
“Building markets for local and regionally grown agricultural products makes great economic sense,” said Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development state director in Iowa. “Continuing to look for ways to promote the value of locally produced foods is an extremely important activity as communities work hard to attract new families and business opportunities.”
This grant to the Ottumwa Progress Inc. is one of seven Rural Business Enterprise Grants awarded earlier this summer to support the development of small and emerging private business enterprises in rural Iowa.
Market on Main’s mission is to provide a diverse range of high quality goods which connect local producers and farmers to the regional community, promote a healthier society thorough education and stimulate small business development.
Contact USDA Rural Development
Residents, communities and businesses in Appanoose, Davis, Jasper, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello and Wayne Counties are served by the USDA Rural Development office in Albia. For more information please call (641) 932-3031 ext. 4 or visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/ia.
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities. Office locations include a State Office in Des Moines, along with Area Offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
This past year USDA Rural Development’s investment in Iowa helped create or retain more than 1,600 jobs, aided 2,400 families in buying their own homes and assisted more than 60 communities as they made improvements to their facilities, services and infrastructure.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.
USDA’s investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.
USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for the American people, even as USDA implements sequestration – the across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget Control Act. USDA has already undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than $828 million in taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget reductions. These reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out its mission, while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner that causes as little disruption as possible.
Contact
Darin Leach 515-284-4747
