SCIRPDC gets grant to help small businesses

In an effort to combat the region's high unemployment rate, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has approved a loan of $300,000 and a $25,000 grant to the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission: Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) has announced.
"The loan will capitalize a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund accessible to rural small businesses, called microenterprises in this program," Shimkus said.
"The grant will be used to provide technical assistance and training."
A microenterprise is a business entity with not more than 10 full-time equivalent employees headed by a microentrepreneur.
To be considered rural, they cannot be located in city or town that has a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants or in the contiguous and adjacent urbanized area.
The South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission serves the counties of Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper and Marion, an area that has been experiencing an above-average unemployment rate.
"Small businesses are the backbone of our nation, particularly in rural areas," Shimkus said. "Providing this assistance is one of the quickest ways to spark the local economy."