USDA Announces Over $375,000 in Grants for New Projects to Increase Economic Opportunities in Wisconsin Through Rural Partners Network

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa today announced that the Department is investing over $375,000 in grants for new projects to increase economic opportunities within the  Rural Partners Network (RPN) community networks in Wisconsin.

Projects being funded are:

• In Pepin County, a $51,855.00 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant will be used by Black’s Valley Ag Supply, Inc. to install a solar electric array at their facility in Durand. The project is expected to save the business $7,800.00 in energy costs per year and generate 132,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, which is enough energy to power 12 homes.
• A $323,263.00 Household Water and Well System grant will be used by Oconto-based Newcap, Inc. to establish a revolving loan program for homeowners in Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Shawano, and Vilas counties, including six Tribal nations.

“This announcement is exciting as it is assisting a rural small business save money on energy costs while becoming more energy independent as well as allowing a non-profit to establish a revolving loan fund to help homeowners with their water and well systems,” said Lassa.  

Today’s announcement is part of a nationwide announcement of a new round of investments totaling more than $194 million to support local economic development plans and projects in RPN communities and other neighboring communities across 14 states and Puerto Rico.

The Biden-Harris Administration launched RPN in April 2022 to ensure people in historically underserved rural and Tribal communities receive their fair share of funding from federal agencies. RPN is an all-of-government collaboration supported by 25 federal agencies and regional commissions.

Since its inception, federal agencies have invested over $8.5 billion across the 36 RPN community networks. That includes more than $1.5 billion in USDA investments in locally driven projects that improve local infrastructure, health care, housing, and connectivity. RPN has facilitated almost 4,000 new partnershipsand the launch of the Rural.gov website.

Today USDA is awarding more than $194 million in grants and loans to support 118 projects that will help rural and Tribal communities address immediate needs and create sustainable economic growth. Many of these projects are the direct result of collaboration between community networks and federal staff living and working in the communities.

Projects will lower costs for families, create jobs and grow businesses in rural areas that have been a bedrock of the country’s economic success for decades despite high rates of poverty and lack of opportunities in their own communities. Additionally, projects will help communities transition to clean energy and modernize critical water and sewer infrastructure.