The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced grants to 3 organizations in South Dakota to help rural businesses, two of them serving the Pine Ridge Reservation.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says the Kyle-based Lakota Fund Inc. will receive $99,993 to provide training and assistance to Native American businesses while the Value Added Agriculture Development Center in Pierre will receive $99,950 to help establish a small business in Shannon County.

The third recipient is the Four Bands Community Fund in Eagle Butte, which gets $99,000 for marketing support to capitalize on tourism.

Vilsack says small businesses are the backbone of the economy in small towns and rural communities. He says the USDA is focused on making sure Main Street businesses have the tools they need to grow.