MILLTOWN, WI — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director, Stan Gruszynski, attended the ground breaking for Endeavors Adult Development Center’s new greenhouses and retail building, which were partly financed through USDA Rural Development.
Two energy-efficient, industrial-style greenhouses will be constructed to provide job training opportunities to over 70 adults with disabilities and will be compliant with the Adults with Disabilities Act (ADA). The current leased greenhouse facilities are costly to operate because of inefficiencies and are not ADA compliant.
USDA Rural Development provided a Community Facilities Loan for $355,000 and a $137,000 grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) toward the construction of the project.
“Americans have always believed in opportunity and promise. If people are willing to work, if communities are willing to come together, we can make things happen and create prosperity.
We are here today because leaders in this community chose a path to a brighter future. By taking advantage of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding provided by the Obama Administration and the members of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation there will be permanent jobs, growth, and prosperity in Milltown,” Gruszynski stated at the groundbreaking event today in Milltown.
Other funding sources included the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, United Way of Polk County, Wisconsin Focus on Energy, the Lions Club, and the Village of Milltown.
USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Programs provide grants to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Loans, guarantees and grants are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, and special-purpose districts, as well as to non-profit corporations and tribal governments.
President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st Century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
More information about USDA’s Recovery Act efforts is available at http://www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal government’s efforts on the Recovery Act is available at http://www.recovery.gov.
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As the lead federal agency for rural development needs, USDA Rural Development returned nearly $744 million dollars this past year to rural Wisconsin communities. Funds are used to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technological infrastructures. Further information on USDA Rural Development programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting the web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/wi.
