PRESS RELEASEOctober 28, 2010Contact: Micci Murrell, Director of Communications

859-231-0054 x211mmurrell@cvcky.org

PRESS RELEASE

Lexington, KY – Highlighting Community Ventures Corporation as a recipient, USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen A. Merrigan announced a new national effort to support small businesses in rural communities in northern, central and western Kentucky. The partnership, called Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP), will provide small, rural entrepreneurs and enterprises with technical assistance and training, and a revolving loan fund to make loans up to $50,000.

Working alongside Secretary Tom Vilsack, Merrigan oversees the day-to-day operation of USDA’s many programs and spearheads the $149 billion USDA budget process. She serves on President Obama’s Management Council, working with other Cabinet Deputies to improve accountability and performance across the federal government. Merrigan brings a wealth of knowledge to USDA from a decades-long career in policy, legislation, and research related to the many missions of USDA. Deputy Secretary Merrigan has managed the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food effort to highlight the critical connection between farmers and consumers and support local and regional food systems that increase economic opportunity in Rural America.

Attending the press conference with Deputy Secretary Merrigan were Thomas G. Fern, State Director, Kentucky USDA Rural Development; John W. McCauley, State Executive Director, Kentucky Farm Service Agency; Tom Perrin, State Conservationist, Kentucky Natural Resources Conservation Service; Jeff Jones, USDA Rural Business Program Director; and Katherine Belcher, USDA Public Affairs Specialist.

‘A large number of jobs in this country, and in Kentucky, are created at the small-business level,” said Tom Fern, State Director for Rural Development. “Programs like the Rural Microentreprenuer Assistance Program will be instrumental in assisting small and emerging businesses.’

Kevin R. Smith, President and CEO of Community Ventures Corporation, stated, ‘Our new RMAP partnership will help us effectively penetrate additional far-reaching rural communities.’ Mr. Smith continued, ‘Working with leadership of new and expanding businesses who are helping rebuild local economies through expanded business activity, stabilization of jobs, and increased new employment opportunities for residents gives us the success we strive for in our work. The RMAP partnership will significantly impact these businesses in their communities.’

Anna Marletta, General Manager of Belini’s spoke passionately about her brother’s vision for building a top quality restaurant in downtown Lexington that showcases local foods from local farmers. ‘With CVC’s support, we were able to increase our production by 50%. We look forward to working with CVC over the coming years to grow our business,’ she continued.

The USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) is a partnership to support rural

Educating and Financing A New Generation of Home And Business Owners

mircoentrepreneurship in rural America to provide direct loans, technical assistance grants, and technical assistance-only grants to microdevelopment organizations to support the development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises. Community Ventures Corporation and Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation based in London, KY are the first and only two recipients in Kentucky of this initial funding opportunity.

- over -Technical assistance, training and loan products are available to new and expanding businesses and their owners in the highlighted areas:

Community Ventures Corporation is headquartered in Lexington with regional offices in Bowling Green, Campbellsville, Frankfort, Henderson, Louisville and Paris. Interested parties may contact any of the offices or call 1-800-299-0267 for immediate connection to their local office. Additional information may be found at www.CommunityVenturesCorporation.org.

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Founded in 1982, Community Ventures Corporation (CVC) is a community-based, non-profit organization that exists to improve the quality of life for urban and rural residents throughout Kentucky.

CVC's central mission is to provide individuals and families with the skills, income, and assets they need to achieve financial independence.

CVC helps people increase income and build assets with three main strategies – o Small Business Ownershipo Home Ownershipo Job Creation Through Business Expansion

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