USDA Rural Development

The Connellsville Redevelopment Authority has worked with several community members through the USDA Rural Development Programs. Please stop in and see how we can help you with any of the below items.

Business

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Business.html

USDA Rural Development is the leading advocate for rural America. The mission area supports rural communities and enhances quality of life for rural residents by improving economic opportunities, community infrastructure, environmental health, and the sustainability of agricultural production.

To support rural regional economic prosperity, USDA Rural Development provides job training and business development opportunities for rural residents, including cooperative business development, community economic development and strategic community planning and faith-based and self-help initiatives. Funding for most of these efforts is administered by USDA Rural Business Programs.

Rural Development also offers programs to provide the educational opportunities, training, technical support, and tools for rural residents to start small businesses and to access jobs in agricultural markets, the green economy, and other existing markets, as well as acquire training in vocational and entrepreneurship skills they can use in the marketplace and business sector. USDA, in cooperation with our public and private partners, is connecting rural residents to the global economy by:

Increasing access to broadband and continuous business creation;
Facilitating sustainable renewable energy development;
Developing regional food systems;
Capitalizing on climate change opportunities; and
Generating and retaining jobs through recreation and natural resource restoration, conservation, and management.

Such investments support our long-term national prosperity by ensuring that rural communities are self-sustaining, repopulating, and thriving economically.

Housing

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/LP_Subject_HousingAndCommunityAssistance.html

As a part of USDA Rural Development, our mission is to improve the quality of life in rural areas. Housing and Community Facilities Programs helps rural communities and individuals by providing loans and grants for housing and community facilities. We provide funding for single family homes, apartments for low-income persons or the elderly, housing for farm laborers, childcare centers, fire and police stations, hospitals, libraries, nursing homes, schools, and much more.

In partnership with non-profits, Indian tribes, state and federal government agencies, and local communities, HCFP creates packages of technical assistance and loan and grant funds to assist more rural communities and individuals. In the years to come, we hope to strengthen these partnerships as well as our relationships with our borrowers and grantees. Together, we can make rural America a better place to live.

Loans

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_Loans.html

Guaranteed Housing Loans

Eligibility: Applicants for loans may have an income of up to 115% of the median income for the area. Families must be without adequate housing, but be able to afford the mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance. In addition, applicants must have reasonable credit histories.

Approved lenders under the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan program include:

Any State housing agency; Lenders approved by: HUD for submission of applications for Federal Housing Mortgage Insurance or as an issuer of Ginnie Mae mortgage backed securities; the U.S. Veterans Administration as a qualified mortgagee; Fannie Mae for participation in family mortgage loans; Freddie Mac for participation in family mortgage loans; Any FCS (Farm Credit System) institution with direct lending authority; Any lender participating in other USDA Rural Development and/or Farm Service Agency guaranteed loan programs.

Terms: Loans are for 30 years. The promissory note interest rate is set by the lender. There is no required down payment. The lender must also determine repayment feasibility, using ratios of repayment (gross) income to PITI and to total family debt.

Standards: Under the Section 502 program, housing must be modest in size, design, and cost. Houses constructed, purchased, or rehabilitated must meet the voluntary national model building code adopted by the state and HCFP thermal and site standards. New Manufactured housing must be permanently installed and meet the HUD Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards and HCFP thermal and site standards. Existing manufactured housing will not be guaranteed unless it is already financed with an HCFP direct or guaranteed loan or it is Real Estate Owned (REO) formerly secured by an HCFP direct or guaranteed loan.

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/HAD-RR_Loans_Grants.html

Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants

Purpose: The Very Low-Income Housing Repair program provides loans and grants to very low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize their dwellings or to remove health and safety hazards.

Eligibility: To obtain a loan, homeowner-occupants must be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere and must have very low incomes, defined as below 50 percent of the area median income. They must need to make repairs and improvements to make the dwelling more safe and sanitary or to remove health and safety hazards. Grants are only available to homeowners who are 62 years old or older and cannot repay a Section 504 loan. For Income and Property Eligibility please see our Eligibility Site.

Terms: Loans of up to $20,000 and grants of up to $7,500 are available. Loans are for up to 20 years at 1 percent interest. A real estate mortgage and full title services are required for loans of $7,500 or more. Grants may be recaptured if the property is sold in less than 3 years. Grant funds may be used only to pay for repairs and improvements resulting in the removal of health and safety hazards. A grant/loan combination is made if the applicant can repay part of the cost. Loans and grants can be combined for up to $27,500 in assistance.

Standards: Repaired properties do not need to meet other HCFP code requirements, but the installation of water and waste systems and related fixtures must meet local health department requirements. Water supply and sewage disposal systems should normally meet HCFP requirements. Not all the health and safety hazards in a home must be removed with Section 504 funds, provided that major health and safety hazards are removed. All work must meet local codes and standards.

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_rbeg.html

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS (RBEG) PROGRAM

The RBEG program provides grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses help fund distance learning networks, and help fund employment related adult education programs. To assist with business development, RBEGs may fund a broad array of activities.

How much are the grants?

There is no maximum level of grant funding. However, smaller projects are given higher priority. Generally grants range $10,000 up to $500,000.

Who is eligible?

Rural public entities (towns, communities, State agencies, and authorities), Indian tribes and rural private non-profit corporations are eligible to apply for funding. At least 51 percent of the outstanding interest in any project must have membership or be owned by U.S. citizens or resident aliens.

Define Rural

Rural is defined as any area other than a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 and the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town according to the latest decennial census. At least 51 percent of the outstanding interest in any project must have membership or be owned by U.S. citizens or resident aliens.

What types of projects are eligible?

The RBEG program is a broad based program that reaches to the core of rural development in a number of ways. Examples of eligible fund use include: Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation, of buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utilities; pollution control and abatement; capitalization of revolving loan funds including funds that will make loans for start ups and working capital; training and technical assistance; distance adult learning for job training and advancement; rural transportation improvement; and project planning. Any project funded under the RBEG program should benefit small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Small and emerging private businesses are those that will employ 50 or fewer new employees and have less than $1 million in projected gross revenues.

How to Apply

To apply for funding for the RBEG program, please contact your Rural Development State Office.

Availability of Funds

Each year, Congress provides program funding as called for in the Federal Budget. Fiscal Year funding levels will be made available as soon as possible after the beginning of each Fiscal Year.