The new legislation provides rural economic stimulus, including:
•    $20 million for USDA direct farm operation loans, with half targeted to beginning farmers.
•    $30 million for the Small Business Administration program that funds loans, training and technical assistance to rural and urban microenterprises. These are owner-operated business with up to five employees.

•    Funds for rural water and sewer grants, housing, community facilities, and most significantly, $2.5 million for getting internet broadband to underserved rural areas.
•    $20 million for Rural Business Enterprise Grants, which support entrepreneurial projects including small business development and value added agriculture.
•    An additional $500 million for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program to meet growing food assistance needs among low-income families and forestall cuts in critical rural development, beginning farmer, and sustainable agriculture programs to fund the nutrition program.
•    Funding for renewable energy, energy efficiency and updating the national electricity grid, a portion of which will prompt new rural opportunities in wind, biofuels and energy conservation.

The stimulus bill did not include other proposals we supported such as funding for the new USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program or a new federal microenterprise tax credit. Nothing was included for land loans to beginning farmers and ranchers, farm energy grants or Value Added Producer Grants.

Contact: Chuck Hassebrook, chuckh@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1018 for more information.