Governor Kaine Announces $650,000 Grant for Mecklenburg County
– CDBG Economic Development funds will support the location of Osage Bio Energy and bring 65 jobs to Mecklenburg –
RICHMOND –Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the award of $650,000 from the Virginia Community Development Block Grant (VCDBG) to Mecklenburg County under the Community Economic Development fund program. The funds will be used to install 54,000 linear feet of 12-inch waterline to the location where Osage Bio Energy LLC will construct an ethanol production plant. The plant will produced 55 million gallons of ethanol annually, and create 65 full-time jobs.
"The Osage Bio Energy ethanol plant in Mecklenburg will provide the Commonwealth with additional agriculture-based ethanol that will advance a goal of the Virginia Energy Plan calling for production of in-state renewable energy sources," Governor Kaine said. "I am pleased to announce this grant award that will provide funding for the crucial waterline needed to move this project forward."
The grant was awarded through the VCDBG Community Economic Development fund, designed to support economic development activities, particularly those creating jobs. The VCDBG requires that at least 51 percent of the jobs created benefit low- to moderate-income people.
The VCDBG is a federally-funded grant administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) since 1982. Virginia receives up to $19 million annually for this "small cities" Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Currently, 284 localities in Virginia who do not receive CDBG funds directly from the federal government are eligible for VCDBG funding.
VCDBG grants are awarded through a competitive process using objective scoring criteria developed in consultation with eligible localities. Approval is based on established threshold for low and moderate income benefit, job creation and investment. Most VCDBG projects benefit low and moderate income people and many projects are targeted for the prevention or elimination of slums and blight.
For more information about VCDBG programs, visit: www.dhcd.virginia.gov.
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