USDA Awards $401M for Broadband Projects in 21 States
The USDA has awarded $401 million in grants and loans to 21 projects in 11 states, from Alaska to Texas, to provide residents and businesses with access to high-speed internet service. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said during a White House briefing that additional awards through the ReConnect Program would be made later this year.
$14.9M for Affordable Housing, Child Care, and Internet Access in Outagamie County, WI
Almost $15 million in federal COVID-19 recovery funds will be allocated toward addressing major issues facing Outagamie County, including affordable housing, child care development and expanding internet access. The county received $36.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to be used by the end of 2024. Of those funds, $11.6 million had already been allocated toward expanded internet access, nonprofit grants, a new 911 Communication Center and county COVID-19 expenses.
Biden Administration Launches USDA-EPA Partnership to Provide Wastewater Sanitation to Underserved Communities
At an event in Lowndes County, Alabama, where a significant number of residents lack access to wastewater infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Closing America's Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative. The new initiative will be piloted in 11 communities across the country where residents lack basic wastewater management that is essential to protecting their health and the environment.
AppHarvest Announces $50M in USDA-Guaranteed Funding for a Farm in Somerset, KY
AppHarvest, Inc., a sustainable food company, public benefit corporation and Certified B Corp building some of the world's largest high-tech indoor farms to grow affordable, nutritious fruits and vegetables at scale while providing good jobs in Appalachia, announced that it secured $50 million across two loans guaranteed by the USDA through Greater Commercial Lending, a subsidiary of Greater Nevada Credit Union. The financing supports AppHarvest's high-tech indoor berry farm in Somerset, Kentucky, which is about 84% complete and expected to be operational by year-end.
New Private, Public Sector Efforts to Maximize Investments in Underserved Communities
Vice President Kamala Harris announced a new coordinated effort by six federal agencies – the Departments of the Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture and the Small Business Administration— to maximize federal dollars flowing into underserved communities, including communities of color, rural, and Tribal communities.
Truist Continues to Deliver on Rural Investment, Lending, and Services Commitments
Truist provided more than $80 million between Jan. 1, 2020 and June 30, 2022 in equity and below-market capital to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and CDFI-managed initiatives addressing crucial issues like affordable housing, workforce development, small business access to capital and programming to help address healthcare and food insecurity, to name a few.
Maine Will Get $62M to Aid Small Businesses in Rural Areas, Key Sectors
Maine will receive $62 million in new federal funding to invest in small businesses in rural areas and in key sectors from forestry to tourism. The new Grow Maine initiative, to be administered by the Finance Authority of Maine, will offer greater access to capital for entrepreneurs and small business owners to sustain or expand their operations.
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U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture: Invests $1.5M to Improve Health Care for People Living in Rural Wisconsin
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Wisconsin Julie Lassa today announced that USDA is awarding $1.5 million in grants to improve health care facilities in Wisconsin. The Biden-Harris Administration made these funds available in the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Programs through its historic legislative package, the American Rescue Plan Act.
Applications Open on September 6th for Next Round of USDA ReConnect Program Funding
USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that the USDA will begin accepting applications on September 6, 2022, for funding to expand access to high-speed internet for millions of people in rural America nationwide, part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to investing in rural infrastructure and affordable high-speed internet for all.
Bipartisan Legislation Moving Forward to Support Farmers and Rural Communities
The fiscal year 2023 appropriations bill for the Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration makes investments in rural communities and provides the necessary resources for vulnerable populations to access safe, affordable, and healthy food options. The bill provides a much needed safety net for the nation's farmers and ranchers, resources to continue to address emerging and known challenges, and a historic level of funding for international food aid programs.
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