Published: June 16, 2008 01:38 pm            

USDA Rural Development funds available for disaster relief efforts

USDA resources include assistance for rural housing, community facilities and businesses

ST. PAUL (June 16, 2008) — Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr today announced that funding is available to individuals and organizations recently hit by natural disasters in several states in the Midwest, including areas of southeastern Minnesota impacted by recent flooding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture “is encouraging residents and business owners to immediately apply for funding to help them to begin their recovery from these devastating storms,” Dorr said. “Rural Development has a number of programs that can be used by citizens to help them get back on their feet. These programs can literally assist in building a community from the ground up and we stand ready to help our fellow citizens in the affected states rebuild their communities and their lives.”

The USDA Rural Development grant and loan funds are available to rural communities to provide housing and shelter, public safety, health care and community facilities and business recovery assistance. For more information on Rural Development programs, call the office in Austin at (507) 437-8247, Ext. 4, or Faribault at (507) 332-7418. Programs include:

• Housing Assistance. Financing is available for home repairs or home purchases. Low-interest direct loans are available for very low and low-income residents. Guaranteed loans are available for moderate income residents. Homeowners over the age of 62 may qualify for home repair grants up to $7,500.

• Business Assistance. Under the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program, grants are available for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses, help fund distance learning networks, and adult education and employment programs. Rural public entities (towns, communities, state agencies and authorities), Indian tribes and rural private non-profit corporations are eligible to apply for funding.

• Community Facilities and Infrastructure: Funds are also available for community assistance facilities such as rural schools, libraries, daycare centers, hospitals, fire and rescue and emergency centers, fire, and police stations, public buildings, medical and assisted living centers. Assistance is also available for community infrastructure such as water and waste water systems.

The USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested almost $4 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure in Minnesota.

        

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