Rural communities

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funding is available again through three USDA programs to promote increased production of biofuel and bioenergy. The programs are authorized under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (The Farm Bill).

* Applications for remaining FY 2009 funding under the Biorefinery Assistance Program (Section 9003), which uses loan guarantees to develop, construct, and retrofit commercial-scale biorefineries, must be received by June 1, 2010.    » read more »

Bill breaks down barriers for consumers to make upgrades

March 10, 2010 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues today in introducing legislation that would make it more affordable for families in rural areas to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This legislation, the Rural Energy Improvement Act of 2010, would provide low-interest loans to families to finance energy-efficient improvements, with the cost included in their monthly utility bill.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that utilities in seven states have been selected to receive funds that will create jobs and new business opportunities in rural America.

"Providing community development assistance, education, training and technical support to the residents of rural communities is critical to the Obama Administration's effort to build a strong and sustainable economy," said Vilsack. "This funding will create good jobs and new business development opportunities."    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 08, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that rural communities will receive support through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) to plan for new water and waste disposal projects. Funding will be made available to the communities through a grant provided to the Virginia-based Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc.

"The Obama Administration supports the construction of new sanitation infrastructure that safeguards the health of rural residents," said Vilsack. "These funds will help ensure that operators of rural utility systems receive the training needed to plan new, safe reliable water systems."    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today discussed USDA's work to strengthen the American agriculture economy and revitalize rural communities in the keynote speech at the 2010 Commodity Classic in Anaheim, Calif. Vilsack focused on the USDA's efforts to increase exports of agricultural products to help American farmers, ranchers, and workers.

"USDA's continued work to expand trade opportunities for America's hard-working farmers and ranchers will play an important role in our effort to rebuild rural communities across the country," said Vilsack. "Increased trade will not only create important income opportunities for producers, but also the off-farm jobs that are so critical for revitalizing rural America."    » read more »

January 25, 2010 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today highlighted two Iowa business projects that will receive job-creation boosts through grants from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Parkersburg Economic Development and Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs are among 44 grant recipients announced by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week. The grants are designed to create jobs by helping businesses get started or expand in rural areas. Parkersburg Economic Development will receive $199,900 to create a revolving loan fund to assist small and emerging private businesses in Parkersburg.    » read more »

In total, $313.5 million for Middle Mile and Last Mile Projects Will Bring Broadband Service To Rural Customers

WASHINGTON, January 25, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of fourteen Recovery Act Broadband Infrastructure projects that will receive $309,923,352 through funding made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

An additional $3,551,887 in private investment brings the total to $313,475,239. Altogether, Congress awarded USDA $2.5 billion in Recovery Act funding to help bring broadband services to rural un-served and underserved communities.    » read more »

December 9, 2009 -- Washington, D.C – Today U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar filed an amendment with Senator Mark Udall to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that would help train and recruit new doctors to practice in currently underserved rural communities. While nearly a quarter of Americans live in rural areas, only 10 percent of physicians practice medicine in rural areas. The amendment builds upon the success of the University of Minnesota’s Rural Physician Associate Program.

“Right now we’re facing a shortage of primary care physicians in our rural communities,” said Klobuchar. “This amendment will help recruit and train a new generation of doctors to continue to provide quality health care to rural Minnesota.”    » read more »

$800,000 in New Federal Funding Will Advance Independence-Sparta Water System

December 9, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Rural Development Agency has provided a total of $800,000 in additional funding to the Virginia-Carolina Water Authority to further the construction of a new water system that will provide improved service for more than 1600 homes and businesses in the Town of Independence and Grayson County in Virginia as well as the Town of Sparta and Alleghany County in North Carolina.

Of that total amount, $319,000 has been provided as a federal grant, and $481,000 has been provided in the form of a low-interest federal loan.    » read more »

November 24, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today announced that the Department of Energy has awarded the National Rural Electric Cooperative a $33,932,146 grant to install and operate smart grid technologies in 17 rural electric cooperatives across 10 states. The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative in Plymouth has been selected as one of the utilities to participate in the project.

This funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will be combined with $1 billion in funds from the private sector to support more than $1.6 billion in total smart grid projects nationally.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- Nov 23, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced his co-sponsorship of Sen. Kent Conrad’s (D-N. Dak.) Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) Reauthorization Act.

“I cannot over emphasize the importance of these rural education programs,” said Sen. Franken. “Rural schools face unique challenges and it is important to develop programs that focus specifically on rural issues. The REAP Reauthorization act will benefit thousands of children across Minnesota.”    » read more »

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 12, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that 111 projects in 35 states have been selected to receive more than $34.9 million in grants to increase educational opportunities and expand access to health care services in rural areas. The funding will be provided through USDA Rural Development's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program.

Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on behalf of Vilsack while attending the annual meeting of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in Kansas City, Mo.    » read more »

12 November 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the nine months since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law, rural communities across the country have found the federal bureaucracy is a serious obstacle to their receiving funding. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick is fighting to address this challenge and ensure the Recovery Act works as effectively as possible for our small towns. She is leading a national group of Members of Congress in sending a letter to Vice-President Joe Biden today, asking him to explain what is being done to assist rural America.    » read more »

Agencies Plan to Consolidate Final Two Funding Rounds, Seek Comment on Program Enhancements

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2009 - The USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced they are streamlining the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's broadband grant and loan programs by awarding the remaining funding in just one more round, instead of two rounds, to increase efficiency and better accommodate applicants.    » read more »

Recovery Act Funds Will Help Improve Infrastructure in Rural Areas of nine States

WASHINGTON, November 3, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of $16.4 million in water and environmental project loans and grants that are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The projects will help provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment systems for rural towns and communities in nine states. Altogether, USDA has announced nearly $1.8 billion for water and environmental project loans and grants, benefiting people throughout the country.    » read more »