Informational sessions about grant writing sponsored by U.S . Senator Claire McCaskill , D, partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development aim to give Missouri business owners resources to overcome economic hard times and create jobs.
These writing sessions have been in rural communities across Missouri during the last week and a half, including a session in Kirksville on Nov. 29.
The goal of the sessions are "to make sure that Missouri businesses are equipped with the tools needed to succeed and to keep creating jobs," McCaskill's press secretary John LaBombard said.
He said it is McCaskill's effort to ensure Missouri citizens in rural communities have the same access to resources as citizens in bigger cities.
Steven Gerrish , USDA rural development representative, said USDA loans and grants, community facility programs, housing loans programs and home repair loans and grants were discussed at the meeting.
He said two or three other programs were covered that involve revolving loan funds that can be available to rural communities and small businesses.
He said the programs can benefit nonprofit organizations, public bodies, municipalities, water districts and hospitals.
Hidden Treasures owner Sherry Stacey attended the session after hearing about it from her daughter. She said she wanted to attend the session because she has several major renovation projects, including a new roof and heater.
Stacey said she wishes there was a follow-up session to teach novice grant writers the proper steps that need to be taken and help them with the process. There wasn't a lot of hands-on information, but the session gave her a starting point to begin looking for money, she said.
McCaskill is working to ensure that Missourians have equal access to taxpayer funded programs and that money is granted fairly and based on merit, LaBombard said. She has not been attending these sessions because of her commitments in Washington D.C ., he said. However, her
Please see MCCASKILL , Page 7
Continued from Page 1
team members stationed in Missouri attend all the sessions.
McCaskill is running for re-election in November 2012. She was targeted early as one of the senators most in electoral trouble, said political science professor Randy Hagerty . This is because she is a Democrat in an increasingly Republican state. There is strong competition from Republican candidates, especially Sarah Steelman and Todd Akin, he said.
"As a Democrat, her strongest base of support is going to be in the big cities," Hagerty said. "Republicans have had a lot of success in rural areas."
Despite strong competition, Hagerty said he anticipates a close election. Areas such as Adair County lean Republican, but a strong Democrat can do quite well in this area, he said. The grant writing sessions might be an effort by McCaskill to reach out to her rural, Republican constituents, Hagerty said. However, programs such as this are part of her job as a senator and it is not unusual for her to have them, he said.
All the information provided by McCaskill's staff can be found at mccaskill.senate.gov .
USDA programs and information can be found at rurdev.usda.gov / mo and additional information about loans and grants can be found at benefits.gov and business.gov .
請先 登入 以發表留言。