BVT Assists Local Grocery Store Initiative with $300,000 Loan

December 12, 2023 - Home, Kan. - Axtell Community Grocery, LLC has been awarded $300,000 in zero interest funding through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program. Through this program, USDA provides zero-interest loans to utilities, like BVT. Those dollars are then lent to local businesses for projects that create and retain employment in rural areas, thus having a positive impact to the overall vitality of the community.  

The store opened its doors earlier this year and is providing the community and surrounding areas with access to quality, healthy food and other goods, jobs, and a safe place for socializing.

In early 2022 the community learned that its grocery store would be closing its doors. Upon hearing the news, a core group of residents pooled their energy and resources and began formulating a plan to get a store back into their town.

“Our new grocery store was a vision of the community and completed only because of the generous and talented community in which we live,” said Renee Gibson, president of Axtell Community Grocery, LLC. “This program gave us the opportunity to purchase like-new or new equipment to provide energy efficiencies and keep repair costs to a minimum.”  

The USDA Rural Development REDLG program is a highly competitive national program that critiques applications on a variety of factors including job creation and retention, sustainability, economic impact to the community, and personal investment.

Gibson added, “Our mission is to provide the highest quality and variety of products in a welcoming environment.  We are grateful for all the support we have received since opening and look forward to serving the community.  A special thanks goes out to Blue Valley for all their support and efforts to assist us in obtaining this loan.”

BVT has been partnering with USDA Rural Development on these types of loans since 2004 which have supported numerous jobs and millions of dollars being reinvested back into the BVT service area.

Jada Ackerman, senior marketing and community relations specialist for BVT stated, “The USDA Rural Development REDLG program provides an incredible opportunity for both start-up businesses and/or existing businesses wanting to expand. While the application process isn’t necessarily easy or fast, nor are the applications guaranteed to be funded, the opportunity to be awarded funds with zero interest over the course of 10 years is a substantial gift.”

Ackerman continued, “We couldn’t do this program without the invested interest of our Board of Directors, local banks such as State Bank of Bern, Axtell Branch, who, in this case, backed this loan, as well as the business and state leaders who are devoted to our rural communities. To see the impact these dollars make on our small businesses is truly astonishing.”

USDA Rural Development REDLG applications are submitted and announced quarterly. Funds must be applied for prior to any work beginning. For information on the USDA REDLG program, please contact Jada Ackerman at jackerman@bluevalleyinc.net.