Impacts in Bremer, Butler, Cass, Clayton, Clinton, Hardin, Johnson, Lee, Madison, Polk, Sac, Sioux and Wayne counties

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 23, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today (Wednesday) announced that the Agency is investing $3,807,390 in 11 grants and $13,000,000 in three loans to projects in Iowa that spur economic development through rural cooperatives, promote small businesses, support infrastructure, assist with disasters, and create jobs. The 14 investments were funded through six different USDA programs.

The Rural Business Development Grant program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small businesses. Projects include (in western Iowa):

• Sac Economic And Tourism Development LTD received $90,000 in a grant from the Rural Business Development Grants program to facilitate business development in rural north central Iowa. This project will provide planning, analytical and technical assistance to certify Sac City as a bioeconomy development opportunity zone to assist in attracting new bio-based businesses to the area. This project will also help provide technical assistance to local feedstock producers and supply chain businesses. The project will promote rural economic development in Sac County.

The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides zero-interest loans to local utilities organizations which in turn pass the funding through to local businesses. Western Iowa recipients include:

• Winterset Municipal Utilities received a $300,000 grant from the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program to establish a revolving loan fund. This project will provide a loan to MCDP Real Estate, LLC/Madison County Dental Partners, LLP to help construct a new dental clinic in Winterset, Iowa, and to purchase equipment for the clinic. This project will create 10 new jobs. This project will promote economic development in rural Madison County.

The Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings. Recipients in western Iowa area include:

• Dordt University in Sioux County received a $9,800,000 loan as additional funding for renovation and expansion from the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Guaranteed Loan program. This project will construct a new dining hall, offices, and classrooms on its existing campus center. The project will also renovate and expand the auditorium.

The Community Facility Disaster Grant program is designed to provide eligible rural communities with grants that address eligible disaster parameters. In Cass County:

• The City of Cumberland received a grant for $40,800 from the Community Facility Disaster Grants program to purchase essential equipment. This project will provide a new warning siren, a snow blower, a dump trailer, a snow plow, and accessories for the equipment. This project will promote the safety of the 251 residents and visitors of this rural Cass County community.