Dateline: July 5, 2007

USDA offers $1 million in rural housing grants

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner announced today that USDA Rural Development is seeking applications for $1 million in counseling and technical assistance grants to help rural residents obtain adequate housing and to reduce the level of delinquent payments among borrowers .

“These grants will help community- and faith-based organizations reach out to rural residents in need of safe, affordable housing,” Conner said. “Rural Development helped nearly 43,000 families become homeowners in 2006.  Programs like the one announced today help rural residents remain in their homes.”

Half of the money will be targeted to five states with high levels of rural poverty and substandard housing and states that were severely impacted by major natural disasters.  These states are California, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.  The remainder of the money will be awarded through a national competition.  No more than one grant per state will be awarded.  Non-profit and community organizations are eligible for grants up to $100,000. 

The deadline for submitting pre-applications is July 20, 2007.  Applications and complete program instructions are available at any Area Office listed on the USDA Rural Development website at www.rurdev.usda.gov.  Federal grant application forms are available in electronic format at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html.

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 $76.8 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 1.5 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.