USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

1. Welcome to Rural Development Lyndon S. Nichols Area Director Our Mission: To increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural Americans Nationally, Rural Development has invested $91 billion in water/wastewater, electric, and telecommunications infrastructure; housing; community facilities; and business development since 2001. In addition, more than 1.7 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

2. Rural Development Programs Administered through three services: Rural Housing Service Rural Utilities Service Rural Business & Cooperative Development Service USDA Rural Development : “The Venture Capitalists of Rural America.”

3. Section 504 Grants (504) Who: Applicant must live in an eligible community. Must be at least 62 years of age. Own and occupy a single-family dwelling. Must be very low income and lack the ability to repay a loan at a 1% interest rate. What: Repair or replace roof, winterize, heating, structural repairs, and water/sewer connections. Maximum life long grant of $7,500. Where: Rural areas with populations of 20,000 or less. Why: Purpose is for health and safety related repairs

4. Mutual Self-Help Housing Grants (523) Who: Non-profits and Public bodies What: Assist lower income families in building their homes. Where: Rural areas with populations of 20,00 or less. Why: Provide affordable housing.

5. Housing Preservation Grants (HPG 533) Who: Public bodies and non-profit organizations. What: Provides grants to sponsoring organizations for home repairs. Those receiving funds must own very low or low income housing as homeowners, landlords, or members of a cooperative. Funds must be used within a two year period. Where: Project must be located in rural communities of 20,000 or less. Why: Funding must be used to rehabilitate housing for low and very low income people. HPG funds received by the sponsors are combined with other program funds and used as loans, grants, or subsidies for the recipient.

6. Farm Labor Housing (514/516) Who: Individuals, public bodies and private non-profit organizations. What: New construction and substantial rehabilitation of rental housing. Where: No population restrictions. Why: Safe, well-built affordable rental housing for farm workers..

7. Community FacilitiesGrants Who: Public Bodies, non-profit organizations, and Indian Tribes. What: Build facilities and purchase equipment for fire and rescue, early warning systems, police stations, health clinics, schools, libraries, hospitals, etc. Where: Rural areas with populations of 20,000 or less. Why: Provide essential community facilities for rural communities 75% PROJECT: LESS THAN 5,000 POPULATION AND 60% MHI 55% PROJECT: LESS THAN 12,000 POPULATION AND 70% MHI 35% PROJECT: LESS THAN 20,000 POPULATION AND 80% MHI MAXIMUM GRANT: 50% OF STATE ALLOCATION OR $50,000 Communities MHI must be below the higher of poverty line or 80% of State Non Metro Median Household Income (SNMHI) AND project is necessary to alleviate a health or sanitary problem. SNMHI is currently $56,354 No communities within the 5th District fit this criteria.

8. Water and Waste Disposal Grants • Who: Public entities, Indian tribes, and non-profit corporations. • What: Build, repair, and improve public water systems, and water collection and treatment systems. Also other related costs. • Where: Rural areas, districts, villages, cities, and towns with up to 10,000 population. • Why: Provide water and waste financing in rural areas to the most financially needy applicants resulting in reasonable user fees. • Maximum grant • 75 percent • MHI below the higher of poverty line or 80% of State Non Metro Median Household Income (SNMHI) AND project is necessary to alleviate a health or sanitary problem • 45 percent • MHI exceeds 80 percent of SNMHI but is not more than 100 percent of SNMHI SNMHI is currently $56,354

9. Solid Waste Management Grants Who: Public bodies and non-profits. What: Provide technical assistance and training to reduce pollution of water resources and improve management of solid waste facilities. Where: Rural area, districts, townships, cities, and towns with up to 10,000 population. Why: Provide technical assistance and/or training to help communities reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources and improve planning and management of solid waste.

10. DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM Who: Incorporated entities, including municipal corporations, on a for profit or not-for-profit basis, that operate rural schools, libraries, health care clinic, and other organizations that operate educational or health care facilities. What: Equipment for classrooms: cameras, video monitors, computers, and LAN. Also physician consultation, radiology, ex-ray scanners, and digital microscopes. Where: Rural areas with populations of 20,000 or less Why: Development and deployment of advanced telecommunication services throughout rural America to improve education and health care.

11. Renewable Energy/Energy EfficiencyRural Energy for America Program (REAP) Who: Rural small businesses and farms What: Grants and Loan Guarantees to buy renewable energy systems (wind, solar, bio, etc.) & make energy efficiency improvements Where: Eligible rural areas, must refer to web site: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do Why: Reduce energy costs/consumption and help meet the nation’s critical energy needs

12. Biomass Research and Development Initiative Who: Institutions of higher education, National laboratories, Federal or State research agencies, private sector entities, and non-profit organizations. What: Research and development of biomass based products, bioenergy, biofuels, and related processes. Where: No population restrictions. Why: Finance the research and development of biomass based products, bioenergy, biofuels, related processes.

13. Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) Who: Public bodies, Nonprofit Organizations What: Ex: Revolving Loan Fund, Technical Assistance, Job Training, Land Acquisition, Feasibility Studies (Typically $25M - $100M) Where: Eligible rural areas, must refer to web site: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do Why: Grants to help finance & support community development initiatives to assist rural businesses, improve quality of life, create & save jobs

14. Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) Who: Public bodies, Nonprofit Organizations What: Used to provide economic planning for rural communities, technical assistance for rural businesses, or training for rural entrepreneurs or economic development officials (Max $50,000) Where: Eligible rural areas, must refer to web site: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do Why: Promote sustainable economic development in rural communities, create & save jobs

15. Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG) Who: Independent producers, Farmers, Agricultural producer groups, Majority-controlled producer-based business ventures What: Used for planning activities (feasibility study, business plans, marketing), Working capital expenses for processing and marketing value-added agricultural products. Where: All areas of Massachusetts are eligible. Why: Develop businesses that produce and market value-added agricultural products.

16. Thank You USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.