Workshops for Rural Small Businesses and AG Producers

Chad Padgett, Alaska Acting State Director of USDA Rural Development, has announced that workshops on renewable energy and energy efficiency will be held next week in Delta Junction and Fairbanks for rural small businesses and ag producers.


“These renewable energy workshops scheduled for Delta Junction and Fairbanks will build upon the recent workshop held in Palmer that was a success with area small businesses and ag producers,” said Padgett.

The workshops are half-day events covering the topics of renewable resources, bio-diesel, retrofitting for energy efficiency, and financing options for rural small businesses. The last hour of the workshops will include a session on how to apply for grants and loan guarantees from USDA Rural Development’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program.

“We are partnering with UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the Alaska Energy Authority and the Alaska Division of Agriculture in these workshops,” said Padgett. “The intent of these workshops is to provide information to help mitigate the impact of high energy costs on Alaska’s ag producers and rural small businesses.”

The workshop scheduled for Delta Junction will be held on Thursday, April 12th from 1:00 to 4:30 in the Cooperative Extension Service conference room in the Jarvis Office Building. Advanced registration is required. To register, call the Cooperative Extension office at (907) 895-4215 by April 10th.

The Fairbanks workshop will be held on Friday, April 13th from 9:00 to 12:30 in the Borough Assembly Room in the Fairbanks North Star Borough Office at 809 Pioneer Road. Advanced registration is required. The deadline for registration is April 11th. To register, call the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation at (907) 452-2185 or toll-free at (888) 476-3332.