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USDA rural development grants remain at risk of being slashed from the federal budget, with the agency facing more than $1.1 billion in cuts proposed by the White House.
University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension in Sidney uses such grants to help support community businesses and infrastructure and even provide needed public services.
“Many of our communities don’t have the funding to be able to provide those kinds of services, particularly in rural Nebraska,” Connie Hancock, UNL extension educator, said. “Having access to those rural development grants is extremely important in making sure we have communities that are viable and vibrant, and places where people want to come live, work and play.”
Here Wee Grow Child Development Center and Sidney Regional Medical Center, among others, also benefit from USDA block grants.
UNL Extension uses USDA rural development funds to provide training to local businesses and communities. In particular, honing social media skills to create a greater online presence.
“As we think about the online world and the technologies we have available, if you’re not there, people don’t know about you,” Hancock said. “One of my big things is ... helping businesses think about mapping tools.”
She added, “If they don’t know about you, they’re going to bypass their establishment.”
Without these funds, these efforts face challenges.
“With the workshops we would have to charge a greater fee,” Hancock said. “Because of the grants we get we can do it at a lower cost.”
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