Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $999,968 to Establish Business Incubator to Boost Food-Related Entrepreneurial Development in Greenville, Illinois
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
December 20, 2017
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $999,968 grant to Greenville College of Greenville, Illinois, to renovate an historic downtown building for use as a business incubator that will focus on community agriculture, local food promotion, and small business development associated with ‘farm to market’ products and services.
“Greenville College has done a stellar job helping to boost entrepreneurship based on the local region’s strength as a food producer,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs Dennis Alvord. “The new business incubator will provide the space and technical assistance food entrepreneurs need to grow and thrive.”
The integrated model of the new incubator will drive entrepreneurship as well as business growth and development by engaging the entire city, regional partners, and campus constituencies to bring a broad array of support services to entrepreneurs that will occupy and utilize this space. This ‘farm to table’ incubator project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southwest Illinois Regional Development and Planning Commission. EDA funds the Southwest Illinois Regional Development and Planning Commission to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.