Announcing the CDFA-NASDA Foundation Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Access to Capital Program
The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation are excited to announce their partnership to create the CDFA-NASDA Foundation Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Access to Capital Program in response to the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement 2501 Grant Program. This program will assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in building successful operations by accessing sustainable business capital.
Ohio Lawmakers Seek $1B for Rural Highways
Ohio lawmakers could earmark $1 billion for rural highways and throw up a roadblock to Cleveland's plan to build bike lanes down the middle of Superior Avenue under the latest version of the state's two-year transportation budget bill. The changes will be part of the debate around a budget bill that, under state law, must be passed by March 31.
Coming Up Next Month: CDFA's Intro and Advanced Bond Finance Courses!
Join CDFA for our upcoming Bond Finance Week! The Intro Bond Finance Course will take place on March 13-14 followed by the Advanced Bond Finance Course on March 15-16. Register for one or both of these courses to learn from experts about how to bring economic growth to your community by utilizing the vast resources of the bond finance industry.
USDA Invests $63M in High-Speed Internet for Rural Americans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $63 million to bring high-speed internet access to people living and working in rural areas in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Mississippi. The investments include funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $65 billion to expand reliable, affordable, high-speed internet to all communities across the U.S., and the ReConnect Program, in which USDA invested a total of $1.7 billion.
$262M to Rural Partners Network for Jobs Access, Healthcare, and Infrastructure
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $262 million to improve access to jobs, healthcare, and infrastructure for historically underserved communities across the Rural Partners Network (RPN), which was established to transform the way federal agencies partner with and serve rural people and places, including Native American communities. RPN includes funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
USDA Invests More than $291M to Improve Rural Electric Infrastructure in Ohio
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Ohio State Director, Jonathan McCracken, announced that USDA is investing more than $291 million through the Electric Loan Program to help four electric cooperatives and utilities expand, modernize the electric grid, and increase grid security. This funding will benefit nearly 149,000 rural people and businesses throughout Ohio.
Two Colorado Utilities Receive $48.5M from USDA for Grid Upgrades
Two rural Colorado electric cooperatives will receive $48.5 million in loans from the USDA to modernize electric grids and increase security. The loans are part of a $2.7 billion federal program to assist 64 electric cooperatives and utilities serving more than 2 million people. The funds also include $613 million for rural utilities and cooperatives to install or upgrade smart grid technologies, which can enable broadband and other telecommunications services in unserved and underserved rural areas.
Mountainburg, AR to Receive $7.4M from USDA for Water Infrastructure
Mountainburg, AR, has received the money it needed to provide drinking water to about 625 households. Mayor Susan Wilson told residents at a public meeting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development awarded the town $7.4 million for its proposed water infrastructure project. This includes $5.7 million in grants and $1.7 million in loans.
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