Rural Grant Funds Small Business Start-ups, City Projects Rural Grant Funds Small Business Start-ups, City Projects

Merrick County is the latest to benefit from these grants with a $300,000 grant awarded to Central City last year to pay for a new, energy-efficient community cinema complex.

“In all three communities we’ve seen new interest with new businesses wanting to locate to the communities based on the availability of building or office space or an industrial site,” she said.

USDA business programs specialist, Bill Sheppard, adds a public power district or a municipality can apply to the USDA for the grant and loan that money to the small business or non-profit at zero-percent interest for ten years.