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South Dakota USDA Rural Development - Summer 2017 Edition
Summer is here, and so is the opportunity to serve your community better!
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Let USDA Rural Development help your co-operative through our
Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant.
We can provide funds to
cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers enabling them to offer
technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups. A Socially-Disadvantaged
Group is a group whose members have been subjected to
racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a
group without regard to their individual qualities.
The technical assistance is commonly used for
conducting feasibility studies, developing business and strategic plans, and providing
leadership training. Cooperatives or Centers interested in applying
can be located in any area, however, the groups assisted must be located in an
eligible rural area.
The Notice for
the FY17 Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) was published in the
Federal Register on June 7,
2017.
Total
Funding:
$3,000.000
Maximum
grant: $175,000
Application
deadlines: July
25 for electronic applications and August 1 for paper applications
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PURPOSE
The purpose of the RMAP program is to support the development and ongoing success of rural microenterprises. The program includes a loan to a microlender for the purpose of providing fixed interest rate loans of $50,000 or less. Eligible microlenders will also be automatically eligible to receive a technical assistance grant to provide technical assistance and training to microenterprises. Microenterprises are small businesses with 10 or less full-time employees and can include agricultural producers.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE AN RMAP LOAN/GRANT?
- Microlenders – also called Microenterprise Development Organization (“MDO”)
- Non-Profit
- Indian Tribe
- Public Institution of Higher Learning
HOW MUCH ARE THE LOANS/GRANTS
- Loan: minimum of $50,000; maximum of $500,000
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Automatically eligible for TA grant to provide technical assistance and training to micro-enterprises that have received or are seeking a microloan under the RMAP.
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Grant is for up to 25% of the total outstanding balance of microloans.
WHAT CAN THE MICROENTERPRISE USE THE LOAN FUNDS FOR?
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Working capital
- Purchase of furniture, fixtures, supplies, inventory or equipment
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Debt refinancing
- Business acquisitions
- Purchase or lease of real estate that is already improved and will be used for the location of the subject business only (construction of any type is strictly prohibited)
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Applications are accepted quarterly.
For more information about the RMAP program, contact Shelby Kraemer, Loan Specialist, at 605-824-3627 or Shelby.Kraemer@sd.usda.gov.
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For more information visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-industry-loan-guarantees.
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Dana Kleinsasser, Program Director 200 Fourth St SW, Room 210 Huron, SD 57350 (605) 352-1157
Cayla Hilbrands, Loan Specialist 200 Fourth St SW, Room 210 Huron, SD 57350 (605) 352-1157
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Jolene Pravecek, Energy Coordinator 2914 Broadway Ave, Yankton, SD 57078 (605)665-3516
Shelby Kraemer, Loan Specialist 524 Enterprise Street S, Suite 100 Aberdeen, SD 57401 (605) 824-3627
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Badlands Distillery Product
The Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG) is a program designed
to help farmers, ranchers, and rural business owners increase the value of
products that they produce and expand their markets and customer base,
strengthening rural America in the process.
In doing so, these grants may be used to develop new projects and create
additional uses for existing ones.
Grants may either be used for Planning Purposes, such as
developing business plans, feasibility studies, and marketing plans. They
may also be used for Working Capital to help get a new, value-added business venture
up and running.
Badlands Distillery, LLC of Kadoka, SD utilized a Working Capital purpose grant in order to generate an additional revenue
stream to support a family ranching business. The ag producer, Jim Herber, found a
knowledgeable partner and set up shop in an existing small facility where his
heritage white corn is now being transformed into several different flavors of
moonshine. Badlands Distillery will use the VAPG funds to expand and refine its website; pay for outreach through trade shows and event sponsorships; cater to tourists by offering samples in its tasting room; reach travelers on I-90 with billboards and digital signage; create a “brand” by utilizing unique bottles, labels, and logo designs; cater to the Sturgis rally-goers through on-site tasting events; and contribute to community goodwill by sponsoring local activities and sports teams.
All grant funds must be matched on a 1:1
basis. Matching funds may be in the form of cash or eligible in-kind
contributions, of which the cash portion of the match must be at least
50%. The maximum award for a Planning grant
is $75,000, and the maximum award for a Working Capital grant is $250,000. The grant periods can go as long a 3 years, starting within 90 days of the award.
If you would like additional information
on the VAPG program, please use the RBS Service Area Map to contact your local Specialist.
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Program and Application Deadlines
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant and Loan Guarantees – two deadlines: March 31 – projects of all sizes; and October 31 – project costs of $80,000 less.
Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program – letter of intent: March 6, 2017 (past) and application: April 3, 2017 (past).
Business & Industry Loan Guarantees – applications accepted year round.
Rural Business Development Grant – Applications are accepted year round – March 31, 2017 Native American deadline (past) and April 28, 2017 unrestricted state deadline (past).
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program – quarterly deadlines.
Intermediary Relending Program – quarterly deadlines.
Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program - quarterly deadlines.
Value Added Producer Grant – 2017 application deadlines are unknown at this time. Watch for funding notice soon.
Rural Cooperative Development Grant – Electronic applications due May 26, 2017 (past) and Paper applications are due June 2, 2017 (past).
Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant - Electronic applications due July 25, 2017 and Paper applications are due August 1, 2017.
For additional program information, view the USDA Rural Development Programs Summary.
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Click the map to view contact information.
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Independence Day - Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Labor Day - Monday, September 4, 2017
Columbus Day - Monday, October 9, 2017
Veteran's Day - Friday, November 10, 2017
Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 23, 2017
Christmas Day - Monday, December 25, 2017
*Observation dates indicates days that the agency offices will be closed which may be different than the actual holiday dates.
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The South Dakota Rural Development Business and Cooperative Services team is excited to share our quarterly RBS newsletter.
At Rural Development, we appreciate our partnerships and all the hard work put in to make Rural South Dakota the best it can be. We know that in working together, we can make an even bigger impact on our communities, so we are pleased to improve the communication to our partners through our newsletters. We plan to send a newsletter each quarter to our partners to keep you in the loop with our programs, tips, regulations, deadlines, etc.
If you have any questions, requests or materials you would like to share in our quarterly newsletter, please contact Cayla Hilbrands at Cayla.Hilbrands@sd.usda.gov or (605)352-1137.
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