Events and Activities : USDA Rural Development Holding Rural-Issues Listening Post in Belle Plaine

Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, will be in Belle Plaine from

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 11th to listen to local community and economic development leaders, as well as the general public, discuss issues and opportunities they encounter in their ongoing efforts to keep rural Iowa vibrant and prosperous. The session will take place at the BellePlaineCity Hall(Council Room) and is open to the public.

USDA Rural Development currently administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility loan and grant programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

During the past year the agency helped a record number of Iowans receive funding for economic development projects and quality of life improvements. The agency’s investment in Iowa helped create or retain more than 2,200 jobs, aided 2,500 families in buying their own homes and assisted more than 250 communities as they made improvements to their facilities, services and infrastructure.

What: Rural-Issues Listening Post – presented by USDA Rural Development

When: Monday, July 11th -- 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Where: 1207 8th Avenue (Council Room) – Belle Plaine

Questions: 319-472-5545 BentonDevelopment Group

or 319-434-6481 Belle Plaine Community Development

For more information about finance programs through USDA Rural Development, please call the office located in Tipton at (563) 886-6006Ext. 4. This office serves communities, businesses and residents in Benton, Cedar, Clinton, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn and ScottCounties.

USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a State Office in Des Moines, along with Area Offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, IowaFalls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, StormLake, Tipton and Waverly.

Further information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting the agency’s web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ia.

USDA Rural Development is an equal opportunity lender with a variety of grant and direct and guaranteed loan programs for single and multi-family housing, community facilities, water and sewer development and business and industry programs.