DEDO and USDA Partnership to Benefit Communities Statewide

Delaware Main Street, a program of the Delaware Economic Development Office, is the recipient of a USDA Rural Development Grant in the amount of $234,643.

These funds are being used to provide training to rural communities and towns throughout Delaware, including seven rural communities: Bridgeville, Delmar, Harrington, Laurel, Milford, Millsboro, and Milton. The main focus of the assistance is downtown business development, but energy efficiency and renewable energy design options, organizational development, downtown design issues, and community image promotion, marketing and advertising is addressed as well.

"Because a primary component of a healthy downtown is a strong business mix, technical assistance will lean heavily toward planning and implementation of strategies to reduce downtown vacancy and to retain, expand, and recruit appropriate businesses," according to Diane Laird, State Main Street Coordinator. "There will be a concentrated focus on assisting small, women, and minority-owned businesses," said Laird.

The USDA's Rural Community Development Grant (RCDI) Program promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs through provision of training and technical assistance focusing on business development, building rural entrepreneurship, small business innovation, and economic development planning.

USDA Rural Development achieves its mission by helping rural individuals, communities, and businesses obtain the financial and technical assistance needed to address their diverse and unique needs. Rural Development works to make sure that rural citizens can participate fully in the global economy.

Futher information is available at the local USDA Rural Development office at College Park in Dover, or by visiting USDA's website at www.rurdev.usda.gov.