Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced February 15, 2011 that USDA is accepting applications for loans and grants to create jobs and spur economic development. Funding is provided through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program.

"In his State of the Union address, President Obama laid out a vision for ‘winning the future,’ with a call to ‘out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world,’" said Vilsack. "These investment opportunities will promote business expansion and entrepreneurship by helping local businesses get access to capital, technical assistance and new markets for their products and services."

REDLG provides loan and grant funding for rural projects through local utility cooperatives. Under the program, USDA provides zero-interest loans and limited grant support to utilities. The funds are re-loaned to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. For more information on this program, visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_redlg.html.

"Our mission at USDA Rural Development includes the creation and preservation of jobs in rural Texas," said State Director Paco Valentin. "The REDLG program supports this mission by promoting entrepreneurship and stimulating business expansion."

Applications from the utility cooperative must be received by March 31 for 3

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. These 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 nearly $146 billion in loans and loan guarantees. For additional information or an application package, contact Billy Curb at (254) 742-9780. For further information regarding USDA Rural Development Programs, visit our web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

rd quarter funding and June 30 for 4th quarter funding. Completed applications must be postmarked and submitted to the Texas USDA Rural Development Office, 101 South Main, Suite 102, Temple, Texas 76501 or submitted electronically at http://www.grants.gov by the provided deadlines. An application must contain all of the required elements to prevent negatively impacting the overall score. For further details about eligibility rules and application procedures, see the February 14, 2011 issue of the Federal Register, page 8334.