USDA Announces $45 Million for Mississippi Delta Region

May 11, 2000

USDA will provide $45 million in loans and grants to projects in the Mississippi Delta region including $30.3 million for clean drinking water and safe wastewater disposal systems. Projects in Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky and Mississippi are involved.

Among the projects are:

–A $3 million business loan for the Bethel Grain Co., Franklin County, IL, to make building modifications and purchase equipment needed to make value-added corn products; the loan will help the company create or safe 63 jobs and help increase corn prices;

–A $1.56 million loan-grant combination to help expand a water treatment plant in Lauderdale County, TN, to provide dependable drinking water for 3,600 residents;

–A $420,000 business loan to the Arkansas Rural Water Association to construct a training facility in Lonoke, AR, where water technicians from small, rural water districts can be trained;

–A $31,000 grant to repair and improve a rural day care center in Caldwell County, KY, and

–A $50,000 business grant to Alcorn State University in Mississippi to add a refrigeration system at a farm and craft market in Natchez.