USDA awards over $200,000 to CalCity, Mojave airports
Money will help create jobs
BY BILL DEAVER
EAST KERN - Airports in Southeast Kern County are over $200,000 richer, thanks to two checks presented last week to the California City and Mojave Airports by Paul Venosdel, state director for USDA Rural Development.
The Rural Business Enterprise grants are aimed at encouraging small and emerging businesses in rural areas, Venosdel said.
California City grant
Mayor Larry Adams accepted a $65,000 check that will be used to extend electric, gas, and telephone services in the city's airport industrial park. The city previously received a $65,000 grant that was used to install water lines in the park.
Airport Manager Tom Weil, whose efforts led to the grant award, said he and several city officials met with Venosdel and Dan Johnson, USDA's Kern County representative, following the check presentation to discuss a variety of issues of importance to the city's future, including health care, housing, water line infrastructure, and projects at the airport and industrial park.
Mojave check
East Kern Airport District officials accepted a $75,000 check which will be used to remodel the old Marine Base headquarters building into an office building to provide an "incubator" for small and emerging businesses.
EKAD General Manager Stu Witt said four businesses are already tenants in the building and two others are pending. Improvements installed in the building include high-speed internet service.
"Give us the money and we will generate jobs," Witt said, explaining that the district has has done the ground work to qualify for grants.
"We have our catcher's mitt on" for grant funds, Witt said.
He also commended EKAD Finance Director Tim Jaworksi for his efforts to pursue the grants. "Tim manages the district's finances so that we are a good place to invest. This grant happened because Tim had a good idea."
Jaworski said more businesses will be attracted to the building when the remodeling is completed.
Grant requirements
Venosdel said the grants are awarded to public bodies such as cities, counties, and special districts, private non-profit organizations including economic development corporations, and Indian Tribes.
Qualifying activities include technical assistance for small and emerging rural businesses, capital expenditures, infrastructure that enables business development to occur, job training, and other related projects.
Weil said USDA plans to hold a "funding fair" in East Kern soon and
is working with local banks and credit unions to get them involved in future
development projects.
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