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Rural Needs


Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants
Department of Agriculture

The purpose of this program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary low rent housing and related facilities for domestic farm laborers. These loans and grants may be used for construction, repair, or purchase of year round or seasonal housing; acquiring the necessary land and making improvements on land for housing; and developing related support facilities including central cooking and dining facilities, small infirmaries, laundry facilities, day care centers, other essential equipment and facilities or recreation areas. Funds may also be used to pay certain fees and interest incidental to the project. Restrictions on the use of funds are: The housing must be of a practical type and must be constructed in an economical manner and not of elaborate material or extravagant design. Housing financed with labor housing loan or grant funds must be occupied by domestic farm laborers and their families.

Loans are available to farmers, family farm partnership, family farm corporation, or an association of farmers. Loans and grants are available to States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, political subdivisions of States, broad based public or private nonprofit organizations, federally recognized Indian Tribes and nonprofit corporations of farm workers. Grants are available to eligible applicants only when there is a pressing need and when it is doubtful that such facilities could be provided unless grant assistance is available.

Approximately $36,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $35,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Contact: Obediah G. Baker, Jr., USDA, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 0780, Washington, DC 20250-0780, (202) 720-3773, Fax (202) 690-3025 http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ CFDA: 10.405

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Rural Housing Preservation Grants
Department of Agriculture

The purpose of this program is to assist very low and low income rural residents individual homeowners, rental property owners (single/multi unit) and to provide the consumer cooperative housing projects (co ops) the necessary assistance to repair or rehabilitate their dwellings. These objectives will be accomplished through the establishment of repair/rehabilitation, projects run by eligible applicants. This program is intended to make use of and leverage any other available housing programs, which provide resources to very low and low income rural residents to bring their dwellings up to development standards.

Eligible applicants are a State or political subdivision, public nonprofit corporation, Indian tribal corporations, authorized to receive and administer housing preservation grants, private nonprofit corporation, or a consortium of such eligible entities. Applicants must provide assistance under this program to persons residing in open country and communities with a population of 10,000 that are rural in character and places with a population of up to 25,000 under certain conditions. Applicants in towns with population of 10,000 to 25,000 should check with local Rural Development office to determine if the Agency can serve them. Assistance is authorized for eligible applicants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and the territories and possessions of the United States.

Approximately $10,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $10,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Contact: Obediah G. Baker, Jr., USDA, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 0780, Washington, DC 20250-0780, (202) 720-3773, Fax (202) 690-3025 http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ CFDA: 10.433

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Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants
Department of Agriculture

The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to qualified nonprofit organizations and public bodies that will aid needy very low and low income individuals and their families to build homes in rural areas by the self-help method. Any State, political subdivision, private or public nonprofit corporation is eligible to apply. Section 523 Grants are used to pay salaries, rent, and office expenses of the nonprofit organization. Pre-development grants up to $10,000 may be available to qualified organizations.

Eligible organizations may use technical assistance funds to hire the personnel to carry out a technical assistance program for self help housing in rural areas; to pay necessary and reasonable office and administrative expenses; to purchase or rent equipment such as power tools for use by families participating in self help housing construction; and to pay fees for training self help group members in construction techniques or for other professional services needed. Funds will not be used to hire personnel to perform any construction work, to buy real estate or building materials, or pay any debts, expenses or costs other than previously outlined for participating families in self help projects.

Eligible applicants are a State or political subdivision, public nonprofit corporation or a private nonprofit corporation. Assistance is authorized for eligible applicants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Marianas.

Approximately $35,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $34,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Contact: David J. Villano, USDA, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 0780, Washington, DC 20250-0780, (202) 720-5177, Fax (202) 690-3025 http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ CFDA: 10.420

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Technical and Supervisory Assistance Grants
Department of Agriculture

The purpose of this program is to assist low income rural families in obtaining adequate housing to meet their family's needs and/or to provide the necessary guidance to promote their continued occupancy of already adequate housing. These objectives will be accomplished through the establishment or support of housing delivery and counseling projects run by eligible applicants.

Grant purposes: Grant funds are to be used for a housing delivery system and counseling program to include a comprehensive program of technical and supervisory assistance as set forth in the grant agreement and any other special conditions as required by RHS. Uses of grant funds may include, but are not limited to: the development and implementation of a program of technical and supervisory assistance; payment of reasonable salaries of staff actively assisting in the delivery of the TSA project; payment of necessary and reasonable office expenses; payment of necessary and reasonable administrative costs; payment of reasonable fees for necessary training of grantee personnel; and other reasonable travel and miscellaneous expenses necessary to accomplish the objectives of the specific TSA grant which were anticipated in the individual TSA grant proposal and which were included as eligible expenses at the time of grant approval.

Technical and Supervisory Assistance Grants may be made to public or private nonprofit corporations, agencies, institutions, organizations, Indian Tribes, and other associations.

Approximately $1,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and funding has not been requested for the program for FY 2004.

Contact: David J. Villano, USDA, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 0780, Washington, DC 20250-0780, (202) 720-5177, Fax (202) 690-3025 http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ CFDA: 10.441

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Rural Housing Site Loans and Self-Help Housing Land Development Loans
Department of Agriculture

The purpose of this program is to assist public or private nonprofit organizations interested in providing sites for housing and to acquire and develop land in rural areas to be subdivided as adequate building sites and sold on a cost development basis to eligible families, cooperatives, and broadly based nonprofit rural rental housing applicants.

Funds may be used for the purchase and development of adequate sites, including necessary equipment which becomes a permanent part of the development; for water and sewer facilities if not available; for payment of necessary engineering, legal fees, and closing costs; for needed landscaping and other necessary facilities related to buildings such as walks, parking areas, and driveways.

Eligible applicants are private or public nonprofit organizations that will provide the developed sites to qualified borrowers on a cost of development basis in open country and towns of 10,000 population or less and places up to 25,000 population under certain conditions. Applicants from towns of 10,000 to 25,000 population should check with local RD office to determine if agency can serve them. Assistance is available to eligible applicants in States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Marianas.

Approximately $10,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $10,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Contact: David J. Villano, USDA, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 0780, Washington, DC 20250-0780, (202) 720-5177, Fax (202) 690-3025 http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ CFDA: 10.411

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Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants and Guaranteed Loans
Department of Agriculture

To construct, enlarge, extend, or otherwise improve community facilities providing essential services to rural residents.

Community facilities include but are not limited to those providing or supporting overall community development such as child care facilities, food recovery and distribution centers; assisted living facilities; group homes, mental health clinics, and shelters; and education facilities. Projects comprise, community, social, cultural, transportation, industrial park sites, and fire and rescue services, access ways, and utility extensions. All facilities financed in whole or in part with RHS funds shall be for public use.

Applicant Eligibility: City, county, and State agencies; political and quasi political subdivisions of States and associations, including corporations, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other federally recognized Indian tribes; and existing private corporations which: (1) are operated on a not for profit basis; (2) have or will have the legal authority necessary for constructing, operating, and maintaining the proposed facility or service and for obtaining, giving security for, and repaying the loan; and (3) are unable to finance the proposed project from its own resources or through commercial credit at reasonable rates and terms. Assistance is authorized for eligible applicants in rural areas of the States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Approximately $477,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $477,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Contact: James C. Alsop, USDA, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 0788, Washington, DC 20250-0788, (202) 720-1500, Fax (202) 690-0652 http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ CFDA: 10.766

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Water and Waste Disposal (WWD) Grants to Individuals in Colonias.
Department of Agriculture

The objective of the section 306C WWD individual grant program is to facilitate the use of community water or waste disposal systems for the residents of the colonias along the U.S.-Mexico border. A colonia is any identifiable community designated in writing by the State or county in which it is located; determined to be a colonia on the basis of objective criteria including lack of potable water supply, lack of adequate sewage systems, lack of decent, safe, and sanitary housing, and inadequate roads and drainage; that existed and was generally recognized as a colonia before October 1, 1989. Colonias are located in the States of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Eligible areas under section 306C WWD may be different from areas under the 5 percent set-aside for the 100 underserved counties and colonias.

The total amount available to Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas was $1,000,000 for FY 2003, and the President requested $1,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Additional information, copies of the regulations, and forms can be obtained by contacting the Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas USDA Rural Development State Offices. Check your telephone directory under "Federal Government" or visit the Rural Development Field Office website to obtain addresses and telephone numbers of State Offices. For further information on this program, please call the State Office servicing your State.

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Water and Environmental Programs
Department of Agriculture

Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) provides loans, grants and loan guarantees for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste and storm drainage facilities in rural areas and cities and towns of 10,000 or less. Public bodies, non-profit organizations and recognized Indian tribes may qualify for assistance. WEP also makes grants to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training to assist rural communities with their water, wastewater, and solid waste problems.

Approximately $1,600,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested approximately $1,480,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Additional information, copies of the regulations, and forms can be obtained by contacting any USDA Rural Development State Office. Check your telephone directory under "Federal Government" or visit the Rural Development Field Office website to obtain addresses and telephone numbers of State Offices. For further information on this program, please call the State Office servicing your State.

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Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant
Department of Agriculture

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program (DLT) is designed specifically to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America. Approximately $47,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $25,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

On an annual basis, the Rural Utilities Service publishes a Notice of Funds Availability announcing the program's funding authority, maximum grant request amount, and application window. Grants are awarded as part of a national competition to fund end-user equipment to rural schools and health care centers. Specifically, the DLT program assists rural schools in gaining access to improved educational resources over high-speed networks. It provides rural hospitals and health care centers with the ability to gain access to improved medical care by 'tele'-linking to urban medical centers for interactive video consultation, management of patient information, and access to medical expertise. This program eliminates the barriers of distance and isolation that face rural teachers and physicians and can solve many of the challenges facing rural residents.

Additional information, including the program regulations, previous grantees, and the 2002 application guide (for reference purposes only as changes may be made on an annual basis) is available on the DLT website at www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm. For questions concerning the program, please contact Ms. Marilyn Morgan at (202) 720-0413 or at mmorgan@rus.usda.gov.

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Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG)
Department of Agriculture

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) makes grants under the Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) Program to finance and facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises located in any area other than a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants including the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town. Eligible entities receive the grant to assist a business; grant funds do not go directly to the business.

Eligibility is limited to public bodies, private nonprofit corporations, and Federally-recognized Indian Tribal groups. The small and emerging businesses to be assisted must have less than 50 new employees and less than $1 million in gross annual revenues.

Grants are subject to restrictions. Contact the USDA Rural Development State Office for more information. They cannot be used for: agricultural production, comprehensive area-wide planning, loans by grantees under certain conditions, activities that may result in the transfer of jobs or business activity from one area to another or over production of goods, materials, commodities, services, or facilities in an area when there is not sufficient demand, programs operated by cable television systems.

Approximately $47,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $44,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Additional information, copies of the regulations, and forms can be obtained by contacting any USDA Rural Development State Office. Check your telephone directory under "Federal Government" or visit the Rural Development Field Office website to obtain addresses and telephone numbers of State Offices. For further information on this program, please call the State Office servicing your State.

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Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG)
Department of Agriculture

The purpose of the RBOG program is to promote sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs. Grants may be made to pay costs of providing economic planning for rural communities, technical assistance for rural businesses, or training for rural entrepreneurs or economic development officials.

To be eligible, nonprofit corporations must have significant expertise in the activities proposed for the grant funds and the financial strength to ensure that the objectives of the proposed grant can be accomplished. You must be able to show that the funding will result in economic development of a rural area (any area other than a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants including the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town). The project must include a basis for determining the success or failure of the project and assessing its impact.

Grant funds may not be used for: duplication of current services or replacement or substitute for support previously provided, paying costs of preparation of application, costs incurred prior to effective date of the grant, funding political activities, acquisition of real estate, building construction or development. Most grants are $50,000 or less.

Approximately $3,000,000 was appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $3,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Additional information, copies of the regulations, and forms can be obtained by contacting any USDA Rural Development State Office. Check your telephone directory under "Federal Government" or visit the Rural Development Field Office website to obtain addresses and telephone numbers of State Offices. For further information on this program, please call the State Office servicing your State.

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Crop Insurance Education and Information Cooperative Agreements for Targeted States
Department of Agriculture

The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to reach agricultural producers in the 15-targeted states with crop insurance training and information.

State governments, universities, and non-profit organizations, including faith-based organizations, are eligible to apply for funding. The USDA is particularly seeking organizations with the capacity to reach agricultural producers in the 15-targeted states. Cooperative agreements will be awarded to applicants based on the recommendations of a review panel.

Request for Applications notices are published in the Federal Register and posted on the Risk Management Agency web site: www.rma.usda.gov.

The authorizing legislation is the Federal Crop Insurance Act, section 522(d)(3)(F) {7 U.S.C. 1524(a)(2)}.

Contact: Lydia Astorga, Lydia_Astorga@wdc.usda.gov, USDA - Risk Management Agency, 1400 Independence Avenue NW, Stop 0808, Washington, DC 20250-0808, (202) 260-4728, Fax (202) 690-3605, CFDA: 10.450.

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Risk Management Education Partnerships for Targeted Commodities
Department of Agriculture

The purpose of this partnership agreement program is to reach agricultural producers of specialty crops and underserved commodities with training and information in managing production, marketing, and financial risk.

State governments, universities, and non-profit organizations, including faith-based organizations, are eligible to apply for funding. The USDA is particularly seeking organizations with the capacity to reach small and limited resource farmers. Cooperative agreements will be awarded to applicants based on the recommendations of a review panel.

Request for Applications notices are published in the Federal Register and posted on the Risk Management Agency web site: www.rma.usda.gov.

Approximately, $10,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $10,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

The authorizing legislation is the Federal Crop Insurance Act, section 522(d)(3)(F) {7 U.S.C. 1522(d)(3)(F)}.

Contact: Lydia Astorga, Lydia_Astorga@wdc.usda.gov, USDA - Risk Management Agency, 1400 Independence Avenue NW, Stop 0808, Washington, DC 20250-0808, (202) 260-4728, Fax (202) 690-3605, CFDA: 10.450.

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