USDA’s Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development Bette Brand was in South Dakota and Iowa last week. She says Rural Development has helped funded several projects in both states including $8 million to Siouxland Energy Cooperative, $250,000 to Stensland Creamery in Larchwood, Iowa to launch sales of frozen pizza and also provided an $8 million grant for a rural medical clinic addition in Northwest Iowa. She says the key to making these projects work lies with partnerships between USDA and local communities.
She says Rural Development funding helps several types of projects get started.
Brand says USDA Rural Development has helped many projects go forward and withstand the negative impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic.
She says one of the challenges Rural Development has been assisting on is to help provide better broadband access in rural areas.
While in Sioux Falls on Friday, Brand toured Avera Health. Earlier in the week she attended several ribbon cuttings and ground breakings at facilities in both Iowa and South Dakota.
