U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development Rural Business Enterprise Grant program will provide $13,650 in federal grant money to Randolph County Sheltered Industries and Lafayette County Enterprises to purchase equipment that will enhance daily operations. Sheltered workshops provide employment opportunities and job training for adults with disabilities.

According to the USDA, the Rural Development's Rural Business Enterprise Grant provides grants to rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small emerging rural business through a broad array of endeavors. These grants assist rural business development through many means, including infrastructure funding, start up loans, and job training.

The following Missouri organizations will receive this federal money:

• Randolph County Sheltered Industries - $7,650 grant to purchase equipment including a tilt truck to transport material.
• Lafayette County Enterprises - $6,000 grant to purchase fencing for the recycling center of the sheltered workshop.

McCaskill believes that federal grants and loans are a positive alternative to earmarks, which in the past have frequently had too little accountability. Competitive merit and need based federal grants and low-interest government loans bring federal assistance to Missouri in an honest and fiscally responsible manner.