Stimulus workshop

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as the federal stimulus program, makes federal grants and low-interest loans available to local governments, not-for-profit organizations, chambers of commerce and small businesses. The program aims to provide a quick start for projects that will add jobs, fuel the economy and promote economic development.

But the rules for much of the stimulus funding packages are new to potential participants or haven't even been written yet.

To help educate agencies and organizations who will be seeking these funds, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill's office is coordinating an all-day workshop next Monday at Dempster Hall on the Southeast Missouri State University Campus.

Representatives of 10 state and federal agencies involved in channeling stimulus funding will be at the workshop: the Missouri Economic Stimulus Team, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Farm Service agencies, the Small Business Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Southeast Missouri State University contract division and the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Center.