RE: More good new from Florida

[Guest guest]

AG SECRETARY BREAKS GROUND ON $4.2 MILLION MIGRANT/SEASONAL HOUSING

FACILITY IN IMMOKALEE

$6.9 million in USDA funds announced for other community and business

development efforts in rural Florida

IMMOKALEE, FL, August 29, 2001 - Agriculture Secretary Ann M.Veneman

today joined state and local officials to break ground on a 304-bed farm

worker housing complex, to be built in Immokalee, Florida. While in

Florida, Secretary Veneman announced the approval of an additional

$450,000 for construction of sidewalks, water and utility infrastructure

at the Immokalee housing site, and another $6.9 million in funding for

other community and business development efforts in rural Florida.

" This is an important day for the community of Immokalee and hundreds

of farm workers from throughout Collier County, " said Veneman. " These

projects are important resources for Florida and will help improve our

rural communities throughout the state. "

The $4.2 million dormitory style-housing complex will provide 304 beds

for seasonal/migrant farm workers. Each unit will offer approximately

4-bedrooms, a common kitchen area equipped with appliances, a dining and

living area, and two full bathrooms. Additionally, social and support

services will be provided; including health and educational services.

The State of Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA), through a

USDA grant, provided $3.2 million to the Collier County Housing

Authority. The housing authority also received $75,000 from the

Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida (a designated USDA Enterprise

Community-EC), nearly $800,000 in county funds and impact fee waivers,

and $100,000 of in-kind property donations from CSX Transportation, Inc.

The Collier County Housing Authority currently has 641 rental housing

units in Immokalee funded through the USDA Rural Housing Service (RHS)

Farm Labor Housing Loan and Grant Program. With the completion of the

304-bed facility, the housing authority will own and manage one of the

largest farm worker rental-housing portfolios in the country.

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Secretary Veneman also announced $6.9 million in loan and grant funds

to support business and community development efforts in other parts of

rural Florida. The following loan and grants were announced:

The RRG of Amelia, Inc. and 's of Waycross Georgia, Inc., has

been approved to receive, through First Coast Community Bank, a

conditional commitment for a $3.7 million business and industry

guaranteed loan. The loan will be used for the demolition of an

existing hotel and construction of a replacement hotel. Thirty jobs are

expected to be created in Fernandina Beach and Nassau County.

Colonial Paper Company, Inc. of Ocala has been approved to receive,

through First National Bank of Northwest Florida, a conditional

commitment for a $1,980,000 business and industry guaranteed loan to

secure favorable financing terms and to expand its existing structure.

The loan guarantee will allow for 43 jobs to be saved.

Sebring Airport Authority located in Highlands County has been selected

to receive $375,000 in rural business enterprise grant funds. The USDA

dollars, leveraged with the Airport Authority's $225,000 contribution,

will provide the financing for the construction of a facility to be

leased by Everglades Foods, Inc., a small and emerging business that

markets and develops new commercial food seasonings. This business will

initially employ five individuals, with future staffing projected at

15-20 employees.

Town of Greenville (Madison County) has been approved to receive

$876,600 in loan and grant funds ($438,300 loan/$438,300 grant) to

replace the existing water treatment facility with a new 510

gallon-per-minute water treatment plant. The improvements will assist

the 837 residents of Greenville.

USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural

development needs, and administers program assistance through three

agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-ative Service, and

Rural Utilities Service. Further information on USDA Rural Development

can be obtained by contacting any USDA Service Center or by visiting

USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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