NEWS RELEASE United States Department of Agriculture • Rural Development
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0700
Phone: (202) 690-1384 • Fax: (202) 690-4083• TDD: (202) 720-6382 • Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov
Committed to the future of rural communities.
“USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.”
To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
Contact:
Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR
DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS
USDA Resources Include Assistance for Rural Housing, Community Facilities, and Businesses
WASHINGTON, 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. The funds will go to areas that have been
designated as Presidentially-declared disaster areas due to the impact of floods and tornadoes.
“USDA 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.”
USDA Rural Development has grant and loan funds available to rural communities to
provide housing and shelter, public safety, health care and community facilities and business
recovery assistance. Areas that have been declared by President Bush as federal disaster areas
will receive priority consideration during the application process. Under Secretary Dorr has
directed USDA Rural Development staff in the affected states to work with citizens, state and
local and other federal officials to explain the type of Rural Development aid that is available for
displaced residents.
Housing Assistance. For the Rural Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan program, Rural
Development will expedite lender approval in the disaster areas and also expedite approval for
access to the Guaranteed Underwriting Services, or GUS program. For the Direct Housing Loan
program, USDA Rural Development will offer streamlined loan processing to assure timely loan
decisions for families hit by the disaster. Existing Direct SFH borrowers can contact the
Centralized Servicing Center (CSC) at 1-800-414-1226 to discuss their loans. Agency Real
Estate Owned properties that are vacant and habitable can be made available for lease through
FEMA or directly to disaster victims.
Business Assistance. Under the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) 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.
All applications will be processed expeditiously as they are received in state Rural Development
offices.
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve
the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested more than $90 billion since
2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership,
business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.7
million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural
programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site
at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
#
