How do you find a development finance agency that is the right fit for your rural community? Tune in on Tuesday, August 31 at 2:00 PM Eastern for a free webinar on best practices of development finance agencies to help you identify the right partner for your projects.

The USDA is making up to $500 million available in grants to help rural health care facilities, tribes, and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services, and nutrition assistance. These funds may be used to increase vaccine distribution and telehealth capabilities; purchase medical supplies; replace revenue lost during the pandemic; build structures for health care services; and support operations expenses associated with food banks and food distribution facilities.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act offers many important provisions that those in rural America were seeking. The bill authorizes $303.5 billion from the Highway Trust Fund for roads and bridges; creates a competitive grant program to address the surface transportation infrastructure of rural communities; authorizes the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success or ROUTES initiative; $65 billion for broadband financing; and funding for rural schools and more.

If the bipartisan infrastructure package that passed the Senate becomes law, many of the nation's most remote communities might finally get connected to the Internet through fiber-optic cables. But rural telecom companies say even fiber links won't fix another big communications problem in their communities — a lack of cellphone towers that leaves many residents and first-responders with extremely poor mobile service.

Nevada Gold Mines started the I-80 Fund during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide loans to small businesses hurt by the pandemic, but the revolving loan fund now covers business needs for any reason – not just COVID-19 impact. The successful fund can now operate well into the future with loan payments coming back to the I-80 Fund to in turn support new loans.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $167 million in 12 states to deploy broadband infrastructure in rural areas without sufficient access to high-speed internet. The investments being announced are part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill to help underserved business owners access capital more easily. The law creates two funds — $10 million each — to help historically disadvantaged business owners get loans. The fund provides a backstop to community lenders who work with small businesses that face barriers getting conventional loans, such as living in a rural community or someone who is a business owner of color.

USDA is providing the funding through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program. Through this program, USDA provides zero-interest loans and grants to utilities. The utilities then lend funds to local businesses for projects that create and retain employment in rural areas. Eligible applicants are USDA's Electric Program and Telecom Program borrowers.

CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series: Best Practices for Rural Development Finance Agencies
Tuesday, August 31, 2021 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern

Intro Tax Credit Finance WebCourse
September 29-30, 2021 - Daily: 12:00 - 5:00 PM Eastern

>>> VIEW THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE RESOURCE CENTER   

America's rural workforce provides a vital foundation for the nation's economy . Rural America supplies the nation's food and energy resources, and the fiber necessary for goods and manufacturing . As USDA continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and help restore the economy, we remain committed to supporting rural employers and job seekers to rebuild rural America's workforce better, stronger and more equitably than ever before .

Automation, shifting demographics, COVID-19 and increased telework opportunities are reshaping the workforce landscape amid shifting industry needs. Counties, through local and regional partnerships and workforce development boards, are working with public, private, and nonprofit partners to help train job seekers and connect them with local employers.

>>> SEARCH RURAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES