The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is awarding Rural Business Development grants to four organizations across Iowa as part of a more than $29 million round of grants announced Feb. 20. The organizations that received business development grants are:
- University of Northern Iowa in Black Hawk County received a $78,267 grant to provide technical assistance to small and emerging businesses in Carroll, Marion and Poweshiek counties. The project will supply project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies and professional reports.
- North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corp. received a $50,000 grant to help provide technical assistance to strengthen local biomass supply chains in northern Iowa. Based in Mason City, nonprofit North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corp. is a regional economic development organization serving multiple localities.
- Perry Economic Development Inc. received a $34,030 grant to help gather data and documents to secure development-ready certificates for an industrial park expansion. Perry Economic Development Inc. is a catalyst organization that supports growth in the city of Perry. The project is expected to promote economic development and create 10 jobs in this rural Dallas County area.
- Lucas County Economic Development received a $101,000 grant to help establish a revolving loan fund to provide loans to small and emerging businesses in Lucas County. The project will allow the nonprofit Lucas County Economic Development based in Chariton to foster growth in Lucas County.