SEMO receives $400,000 for loan program, greenhouse

The federal Delta Regional Authority has awarded two $200,000 grants to Southeast Missouri State University to help fund construction of a new greenhouse and an entrepreneurial training and business loan program.

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., announced the two grants. Pleased school officials spelled out the details of the two projects.

The new greenhouse will improve the school's existing rice research effort and other life science programs, school officials said.

The grant, supplemented by private donations and funds from Southeast's agriculture department, will fund construction of a $650,000 greenhouse. Construction will begin next year and is expected to be completed for the start of the fall semester. The new greenhouse will be on a 17-acre site off Bertling Street, behind the university's new softball fields.

Fund-raising is continuing for second phase of the project, which involves building a classroom laboratory building, an arboretum, walkways and turf management facilities.

The other $200,000 grant will allow Southeast to provide training for emerging and small businesses in the region as well as loans of up to $5,000 apiece to get them started. Two-thirds of the grant money will go to entrepreneurial training with the remainder earmarked for loans, school officials said.