| MAY 3, 2011 -- Administrator Judith Canales recently visited Grower Direct Farms, Inc., in Somers, Conn., to highlight the assistance USDA Rural Development provides to rural businesses to help them create jobs and become more energy efficient. Canales administers USDA business programs.
“USDA and President Obama recognize that a prosperous future begins with implementing a strategy to meet our country's current and long-term energy needs,” Canales said. “With assistance from USDA’s Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP), Grower Direct Farms, Inc., is reducing energy consumption and improving the business’ bottom line.”
Canales’ visit to Connecticut is part of a series of workshops and events across the country this month to inform businesses and agricultural producers about loans and grants available through USDA.
In 2008, USDA Rural Development awarded Grower Direct Farm – a local greenhouse that employs more than 180 workers – a loan guarantee and an energy efficiency grant to reduce energy usage and cost by installing a biomass boiling system that uses woody biomass instead of fossil fuel to heat its greenhouses. The system replaced six large oil burners and reduced annual fuel oil consumption from 500 gallons to just 50 gallons.
Last Week, USDA announced that it is making available up to $61 million in guaranteed loans and $42 million in grants through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Under this program, funds are available to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses develop renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements and conduct studies to determine the feasibility of renewable energy systems.
For information on how to apply, please see the April 14 Federal Register or contact your local USDA Rural Development office: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateOfficeAddresses.html
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of national state and local offices. Agency programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $149 billion in loans and loan guarantees. |
