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Release No. 0016.18

Contact:
Weldon Freeman
(202) 690-1384

USDA Helped Improve Essential Services for 7 Million Rural Residents in 2017

Funding Supports Schools, Libraries, Municipal Centers, First Responder Vehicles and Equipment, Other Community Needs

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2018 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced that USDA invested in nearly 400 projects to provide essential services for more than 7 million people in rural areas across the country in Fiscal Year 2017.

“Partnering with our small towns and cities to support essential services that rural residents need is one way USDA is facilitating prosperity in rural America,” Perdue said. “USDA’s investments will help communities significantly improve their schools, hospitals and public safety facilities, and improve the quality of life.”

USDA infused $1.5 billion into rural areas in 2017 through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program for projects such as schools, libraries, municipal centers, first responder vehicles and equipment, social service buildings, recreational activities and other community needs. These investments are helping nearly 7 million rural residents.

In Fiscal Year 2017, USDA supported projects in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Below are some examples of projects USDA helped finance:

• The city of Ludington, Mich., received a $1.6 million loan to replace its 50-year-old fire station, which was once a storage facility that was transformed into a fire station in the 1970s. The current space is inadequate and does not meet accessibility standards for people with disabilities. The new, larger station will include a training room, administrative offices, and locker and storage rooms for equipment and supplies. Most importantly, the updated facility will meet all current building codes. The project will benefit more than 8,000 residents.
• NCCD – West Hills Properties LLC in Austin, Texas, received a $33 million loan to build a 464-bed, 170,400-square-foot dormitory on the campus of Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. The building will be used primarily for full-time engineering and agriculture students to help meet the growing demand for on-campus housing.
• Community Action Realty in Williamsport, Pa., received a $775,000 loan to acquire a building for Head Start classrooms for residents of Lycoming and Clinton counties. The larger space will allow for continuous oversight and coaching, increase safety for the children, and improve service delivery. Many of the services are offered by the Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action STEP, Inc.
• The Willow Oak Montessori Foundation Inc., in Pittsboro, N.C., received a $5.6 million loan to construct three, 11,000-square-foot buildings for students at the Willow Oak Montessori Charter School. The school will add an 8th grade and kindergarten for the 2018-2019 school year when the project is completed. It currently serves children in grades 1 through 7.

In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump, which included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit rd.usda.gov.

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