FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Krista Buckel
859-231-0054 x. 1034
FULTON, KY. (November 19, 2024) – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) department of Rural Development awarded funds to provide training and technical assistance to Fulton County Fiscal Court, the City of Hickman, and the City of Fulton related to strategic planning, housing, community facilities, community and economic development, and accessing alternative financing sources.
“Fulton County was hit hard by a devastating tornado, and this community is working hard to rebuild,” said Brenda Weaver, Community Ventures President of Lending and Western Kentucky Disaster Recovery. “We are grateful to the USDA for this funding and are honored to assist Fulton County Fiscal Court, the City of Hickman, and the City of Fulton as they work to increase capacity, strengthen resiliency and expand expertise for future community leaders. This funding will provide an opportunity for these communities to bring the newest members of the Rural Partners Network along with them, creating a stronger and more vibrant economy for the region.”
USDA’s department of Rural Development awarded $450,000 to Community Ventures (CV) for this work.
When this project is complete, Fulton County will have a shared strategic plan to rebuild the county’s economic structure, creating a roadmap for expanding opportunities for future homeowners and business owners as well as economic development.
Fulton County will also gain business operation training and technical assistance for establishments and receive direct support from CV for businesses to create disaster resiliency plans.
“The work USDA Rural Development does to improve quality of life and economic prosperity can’t be done without strong partnerships, like the one we have with Community Ventures,” said Dr. Tom Carew, Kentucky state director for USDA Rural Development. “This investment will lead to Fulton County seeing more opportunities for homeownership and economic development and is the latest win for the Rural Partners Network in the region.”
RCDI grants are awarded to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities, and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas.
To learn more about USDA Rural Development, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/.
To learn more about Community Ventures, visit https://www.cvky.org.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
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About Community Ventures: Founded in 1982 as a community-based, non-profit organization, Community Ventures (CV) strengthens communities and improves the overall quality of life for Kentuckians by supporting job creation, small business ownership, and home ownership. CV is headquartered in Lexington with branch locations in Bowling Green, Campbellsville, Louisville, Mayfield, Millersburg, and Owensboro. For 21 consecutive years, CV has been named Microlender of the Year by the Kentucky Small Business Administration.
