shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com July 23, 2019 • Page 3 Funding Available For Funding Available For Renewable Energy System And Energy Efficiency Loan Guarantees The Development Of Affordable Housing HURON, SD, July 18, 2019 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for South Dakota Julie Gross today encouraged farmers, rural small businesses and agricultural producers to apply for financing in a key USDA program that provides loan guarantees to help rural small businesses lower their energy costs. “Assisting rural communities is our mission,” said Gross. “Reducing operating costs and energy consumption can assist a small business’ bottom line and allows them to invest in equipment, products, and services to expand their operation.” USDA accepts applications for REAP funding year-round. Potential applicants can contact Jolene Pravecek at jolene. pravecek@usda.gov or (605) 655-3516 for additional information. REAP funding can be used for renewable energy systems such as anaerobic digesters, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, wind and solar. It also can be used to make energy efficiency improvements to heating, ventilation and cooling systems; insulation; and lighting and refrigeration. Below is an example of a USDA REAP investment: • Langer’s Supermarkets, Inc. (trade name Langer’s Family Foods) received $3,767 to purchase and install LED lighting in the grocery store in Gettysburg, SD. Langer’s Family Foods is a family owned grocery store. The store is a convenient one-stop shop where you can purchase everyday essentials including quality fresh meat, frozen food items, dairy, health and beauty products to a wide array of locally grown fruit and vegetables. Gross’ announcement is in coordination with the recent announcement made by Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has more than $400 million still available for Energy System and Energy Efficiency Loan Guarantees. In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Supporting the rural workforce was a cornerstone recommendation of the task force. To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB). USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) announces approximately $15.3 million is available for funding during the 2019 application cycle for the HOME Investment Partnerships, Housing Tax Credit, Housing Opportunity Fund and Housing Trust Fund programs. Funding can be utilized to assist communities in addressing their local housing needs. The HOME program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides funds to developers and/or owners for acquisition, new construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing. SDHDA has $5 million available for affordable single and multifamily housing opportunities statewide. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 established the Housing Tax Credit Program as an incentive for construction, rehabilitation and acquisition/rehabilitation of housing for low-income households. Developers of housing tax credit projects typically raise equity capital for their projects by syndicating tax credits to investors. For this application cycle, $3.2 million is available. The Housing Opportunity Fund may be used for new construction or the purchase and rehabilitation of rental or homeownership housing. It may also be used for homelessness prevention activities, homebuyer assistance and housing preservation – including home repair or to make homes more accessible to individuals with disabilities. The Housing Opportunity Fund program has $2.5 million available for allocation. The Housing Trust Fund provides financing to expand the supply of decent, safe and affordable housing for extremely low income South Dakotans. Funding is targeted to 30 percent of the Area Median Income and below. This funding source has $4.6 million available for allocation. The HOME, Housing Tax Credit, Housing Opportunity Fund and Housing Trust Fund program allocation plans and application forms can be found on SDHDA’s website at www.sdhda.org. Complete applications must be received at SDHDA on Friday, Aug. 30, by 5 p.m. Central You come at your own risk. Time. Applications may be mailed or submitted online at Please note that chefs can receive SDHDA’s website at www.sdhda.org. 2.00 CEH’s for participating in the Awards are anticipated to be announced in Novemfirst tour and an additional 2.0 CEH’s ber. For more information on the housing development for the 2nd tour. programs, please contact a Housing Development officer, The events are hosted by SDSPA at 800.540.4241. in partnership with Audubon Dakota, SDSU Extension, the American Culinary Federation- Black Hills Chapter of Professional Chefs, Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Society, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, the USDA and the SD Department of Tourism. Additional tours featuring specialty crops, meats and value-added products are scheduled this summer across the state. The next tours are scheduled for Aug. 9 near Custer, SD featuring greenhouse production and the utilization of gardens in patient recovery at Custer Regional Hospital. On Sept. 7 tours in Mission, SD will showcase a geothermal greenhouse and high tunnels. For a full listing of events visit http:// sdspecialtyproducers.org or https:// www.facebook.com/sdspa/. For more information contact SDSPA at 605-430-4699 or SDSPAmembers@gmail.com. Hydroponics And Grass Fed Beef Tours Near Chamberlain YANKTON, S.D. – The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) has coordinated upcoming farm tours highlighting the specialty crop and local foods industry on July 28, 2019. The first tour will feature growing with hydroponics at Happy Hydros, 631 David Drive, Pukwana, SD, from12:00-2:00 p.m. CDT. The second tour focuses on raising grass fed beef at Bijou Hills Grass Fed Meat, 26314 350th Ave., Chamberlain, SD from 2:30-4:45 p.m. CDT. Happy Hydros, operated by Mark & Teal Scholl, specializes in growing pesticide-free hydroponic vegetables including tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. The produce is grown in greenhouses, providing a space for year-round production of lettuce and an extended season for the other crops. Their products are available in retail locations, restaurants, hospitals and schools. They also operate Grandma D's Kitchen, LLC, which specializes in small batch processing and offers co-packing services. During the event the Scholl’s will share the farm’s story and provide a tour of their property and commer- cial kitchen. Bijou Hills Grass Fed Meat, operated by Larry Wagner, raises cattle on grass and forage. Seeded grain is not fed to the animal in order to keep the Omega-3 fatty acids high in the animal’s body. Wagner spends a lot of hours moving cattle between small paddocks or pastures to make sure they have fresh growing grass to eat and applies techniques to promote healthy cattle and a healthy environment. The beef is available direct to consumers, at farmers market and at retail locations. Wagner will share the farm story and provide a tour of the ranch. Additionally, Josh Lefers of Audubon Dakota will present ‘Grazing for Soil Health.’ Local producers, chefs, consumers and organizations involved in local or specialty foods are encouraged to attend the free tours. Bring your family and enjoy an afternoon learning about how your food is produced. Participants may attend one or both sessions. No registration is required. You will be a guest on tour hosts’ property, so please use common sense and follow directions. Labor Department Awarded $1.2 Million To Expand Apprenticeships PIERRE, S.D. – The Department of Labor and Regulation was recently awarded a $1.2 million State Apprenticeship Expansion Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The intent of the grant is to increase the number of new apprentices in the state over the next three years. Funding will also be available to businesses to help assist in new program development. “The apprenticeship training model MV Shopper MV Shopper M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y combines work-based technology. nationwide. To learn learning with related “Registered Apprenmore about Registered classroom instruction ticeships are a viable op- Apprenticeships in using the highest inportunity to quickly and South Dakota, visit www. dustry standards,” said effectively close skills StartTodaySD.com. state Labor and Regulaand training gaps, resulttion Secretary Marcia ing in more workers Hultman. employed in high-skill, The grant will provide high-wage jobs,” said businesses a financial Secretary Hultman. • Great Parts • Great Warranty incentive when hiring The U.S. DOL awarda new apprentice to ed2ndtotalrdof $183.8th, 16th & 17th • 1-3:00PM In-Stock! NO WAITING! a & 3 , 9th & 10 milOn-Hand & December offset the upfront cost of lion to states to support 1007 Broadway Ave Bring the diversification of aptraining. Key industries Your Cameras! Yankton, SD of focus include healthprenticeship programs 605•665•4494 care, manufacturing, accommodation and food service, and computer science/information •Busch & Busch Light 30 pks ........... $15.79 Meridian Cycles Downtown Motorcycle Sales and Service In Print and Online! • 665-5884 YOUR RADIATOR HEADQUARTERS! Cox Auto Always LOW Liquor Prices! •Old Milwaukee & Light 30 pks ........$14.99 •Miller High Life & Light 30 pks ........$14.99 •Bud & Bud Light 24 pks ........................$17.99 109 W. 3rd St. • 605-665-7865 * Yankton Meridian District * www.yanktonrexall.com M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y Got A Rock Chip? Mobile Glass Service We’ll come to your home or office for windshield repair or replacement Ron’s Auto Glass 1915 Broadway, Yankton 605.665.9841 Open House Saturday, July 27 • 10am-3pm Serving Hot Dogs and a drink from 11am-1pm. Moose tail Instant De he t Cleaner to rs! e first 20 bik Door Prizes: One Gift Certificate for a set of Metzeler motorcycle tires of your choice, Drag Specialties caps, Meridian Cycles T-Shirts! Used Parts Clearance Sale 101 Douglas Ave • Yankton, SD 57078 BJ Weins • 605-680-4545 “We’ve Got You Covered” IF YOU HAD HAIL IN YOUR AREA IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, OR YOUR ROOF IS WEATHERED YOU NEED TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. 1600 Whiting Dr., Yankton, SD (605) 857-1472 • Insurance Preferred Contractor • Family Owned / Locally Operated • Licensed / Bonded / Insured