Goodman, Missouri -- The Unites States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved a $900,000 guaranteed rural development loan to allow the Hunte Corporation, located in northern McDonald County, to purchase equipment, restructure it’s debt and provide working capital for expansion Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt has announced. Hunte Corporation Chairman Andrew Hunte said, The loan will allow us to expand business and increase employment in McDonald County. The company received another loan for $3.5 million from the USDA last year. The dog breeding industry has suffered a black eye in recent years, but we are out to change that image by putting animals first and ensuring they get the best humane professional treatment, Hunte said. We deal with breeders in several Midwest states who can meet our standards of quality care. One of our goals is to help breeders improve their operations. Hunte explained, We get the puppies at 8 weeks old and they undergo a week of quality care to make sure they are healthy before they are shipped to upscale pet stores around the country.

The Hunte Corporation operations near Goodman include more than 150 employees under the direction of six veterinarians. The dogs are housed in a 30,000 square foot building that is climate and odor controlled. The operation is federally and state inspected.

Hunte said, We added 18 employees this year and we hope to keep expanding. We want to be the educators of the industry. We are committed to excellence. The federal guaranteed loan will allow us to continue to move in that direction. Ten years ago, Hunte Corporation consisted of seven employees and a million dollars in sales. Hunte says sales this year will exceed $26 million.

Hunte Corporation is the largest distributor-wholesaler of puppies in the United States. The company also exports young dogs overseas.