(USDA, February 16, 2010) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $144 million in loan guarantees to assist 54 rural businesses through funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funding is authorized through USDA Rural Development’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program. The program received $1.57 billion through the Act to help rural businesses stimulate economic development. ”A number of the Recovery Act projects announced today support the President’s comprehensive energy strategy announced earlier this month,” said Vilsack. Click here to read more…