WCDI, NICC receive USDA grant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $35,500 grant to Winneshiek County Development, Inc

The "Rural Business Enterprise Grant" will be used to fund outreach and education through Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), the Northeast Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Northeast Iowa Business Network (NIBN).

The organizations will provide businesses with services and workshops aimed at improving small businesses and the local economies in Allamakee, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Delaware, Howard, Winneshiek and Dubuque (excluding the City of Dubuque) counties.

Outreach programs include Quickbooks training, entrepreneur networking, customer identification and marketing efforts.

The grant funding will also support ongoing successful programs with local agriculture-based companies in collaboration with the Food & Fitness Initiative, NICC and the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. These programs include In Her Boots (Women in Farming), Fruit Tree Grafting, Farmland Leasing, Pasture Walks and Farm Energy.