Trump Administration Invests $100,000 in Rural Energy for America Program in Rural Oklahoma

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Investment to Help Oklahoma Agriculture Producers and Rural Small Businesses Lower Energy Costs

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STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA August 19, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $100,000 to lower energy costs for ag producers and rural-based businesses in rural Oklahoma.

“We are pleased that Oklahoma ag producers and rural businesses will have access to this service. Lowering their energy costs will allow them to make other improvements to their product or business and, in many cases, create job opportunities in their rural communities,” said Dr. Lee Denney, USDA Rural Development (RD) Oklahoma State Director. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Oklahoma in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

In Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University (OSU) will use a $100,000 grant to form a Rural Energy Assessment Center (REAC) to be housed within the Mechanical Engineering Technology program of the Division of Engineering Technology, a part of the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology at OSU. This new center will provide assessments/audits to small rural businesses and ag producers throughout rural Oklahoma helping to reduce their energy waste while increasing productivity. Through this USDA RD investment, REAC plans to conduct 15 assessments/audits for rural clients.

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/ok.

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