Rural Development

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 ...

"Since 2010, 135 rural hospitals have closed and an additional 453 are vulnerable to closure," said Rural Development's Xochitl Torres Small as she testified recently before the Senate Ag Committee as they looked at opportunities and challenges in the rural care economy ...

USDA's Under Secretaries recently discussed some of the efforts of their mission areas in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic during a recent Agricultural Outlook Forum panel. "One of the things I'm proudest of is the ability of USDA , FSA, NRCS, RMA, our business center, to continue to deliver on the core programs of this mission area," noted Under Secretary for Farm Production and Cons

In an effort to help and encourage entrepreneurs in rural portions of the state, Oregon Rural Development is out with a comprehensive resource guide. State Director Margi Hoffmann said navigating and accessing programs can feel like you’re navigating a complex maze. "T ...

On Thursday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA will make available $215 million in grants and other support to make America’s food supply chain more resilient. The financing will help expand meat and poultry processing options, strengthen the food supply chain, and create jobs and economic opportunities in rural areas. The ...