Rural Development

USDA’s Rural Development undersecretary faced numerous complaints from rural U.S. Senators about complicated grant applications, office staffing, and broadband grant duplication at a recent Farm Bill hearing.  Xochitl Torres Small defended her agency’s handling of its many functions, calling most criticisms the result of having to balance costs and fairness.  But she did agree t...

Earlier this week, USDA Rural Development Undersecretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that the agency is awarding $110 million in grants to improve healthcare facilities in rural towns across America.  These grants will help 208 rural healthcare organizations expand critical services for five million people in 43 states and Guam.   “...

USDA will invest $7 million in a rural Clackamas County internet provider, with the hopes of providing broadband service to 500 unserved households.  USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh made the announcement Tuesday at Clear Creek Communications.   “...

The Department of Agriculture this week announced $121 million in funding for “critical infrastructure” to combat climate change in rural America.  The investments include $111 million for 289 projects to help people living in socially vulnerable communities.      “Rural Am...

The Biden administration announced late last week a $74 million effort to improve health care facilities in rural communities.  The Rural Development grants will help 143 rural health care organizations expand critical services for three million people in 37 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.  ...

USDA's Rural Development recently announced the investment of over $6 million to improve critical water infrastructure and secure clean drinking water in Amity, OR. “Many of Oregon’s small, rural communities face significant barriers to funding critical water infrastructure projects,” said Oregon State RD Director Margi Hoffmann. “The need is clear, but of...

June is National Homeownership month.  As part of this nationwide celebration, Rural Development is highlighting programs that can help in the effort to buy, build and repair affordable homes.  Trudy Teter with RD Washington said many people are not aware of the programs they offer.  Two tha...

National Homeownership Month is underway, and as Rural Housing Service Administrator Joaquin Altoro pointed out, "Not many folks know that USDA and Rural Development has the housing arm." Altoro said a diverse range of housing programs under the Rural Development Mission Area covers aspects such as single and multi-family housing, rental assistance and home repair ...

Last week, the Department of Agriculture and the Economic Development Administration unveiled a joint resource guide. The guide seeks to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic development in rural America ...

A hindsight look at how renewable energy programs of projects from the 2018 Farm Bill have provided rural producers and stakeholders opportunities in the now and the future. "When communities lean in to clean energy, as so many are already doing and have been doing for years, the resulting economic prosperity is clear ...