NEWS RELEASE United States Department of Agriculture • Rural Development
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0700
Phone: (202) 690-1384 • Fax: (202) 690-4083 • TDD: (202) 720-6382 • Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov
Committed to the future of rural communities.
“USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.”
To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
Contact:
Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384
USDA ANNOUNCES FUNDING TO 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS TO
PROMOTE JOBS, BUSINESS GROWTH
WASHINGTON, September 2, 2008 – Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural
Development Thomas C. Dorr today announced the selection of 15 historically African-
American land-grant institutions in 14 states to receive a total of $1.5 million in economic
development and business promotion grants.
“These funds are part of USDA Rural Development’s ongoing efforts to ensure that all
rural Americans are able to share in the nation’s economic growth,” Dorr said. “USDA has been
working with the 1890 institutions and Tuskegee University for more than a decade to help them
reach rural residents in communities with the greatest economic need.”
The grants will help create businesses, promote cooperatives and provide employment
opportunities. The recipients are among the 18 institutions supported under the Second Morrill
Act of 1890, a law providing for the establishment of land-grant institutions focusing on
agriculture, home economics and the mechanic arts.
For example, Langston University in Langston, Okla., was selected to receive a $100,000
grant to strengthen and develop rural enterprises in seven underserved rural communities in five
counties throughout Oklahoma. The university will conduct seminars and workshops focusing
on business counseling, technology training, grant writing and loan package preparation in
targeted rural communities. Langston will place a special emphasis on creating value-added and
renewable energy ventures. This effort is expected to create or save 25 local jobs.
Alabama A&M University in Normal, Ala., was selected to receive a $75,000 grant that
will provide a special emphasis on hands-on training for youths in computer usage, business
recordkeeping, financial management and business planning, as well as traditional outreach
efforts such as workshops, seminars and individual counseling.
Funding of each recipient is contingent upon their meeting the conditions of the grant
agreement. The following is a complete list of the 1890 Institutions receiving USDA Rural
Development awards:
2008 Land Grant Institution Recipients
Recipient State Grant Amount
Tuskegee University AL $115,000
Alabama A&M University AL $75,000
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff AR $100,000
Delaware State University DE $115,000
Fort Valley State University GA $115,000
Florida A&M University FL $105,000
Kentucky State University KY $75,000
Southern University and A&M College LA $100,000
University of Maryland Eastern Shore MD $100,000
Alcorn State University MS $100,000
North Carolina A&T State University NC $100,000
Langston University OK $100,000
South Carolina State University SC $100,000
Prairie View A&M University TX $100,000
West Virginia State University WV $100,000
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve
the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested more than $90 billion
since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership,
business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.7
million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural
programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural
Development’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
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