USDA Rural Development is seeking applications to implement projects supported by regional economic and community development planning to help the people of rural America build back better.

Rural housing and community development professionals across the country convene at the annual meeting of the National Rural Housing Coalition. Coalition members will discuss rural housing programs and policy issues and the status of federal legislation affecting affordable housing programs.

Stymied by lawsuits that contend USDA debt relief for farmers of color is actually reverse discrimination, House Democrats proposed an alternative: full or partial forgiveness of USDA loans to limited-resource farmers. The multi-billion-dollar proposal, which does not mention race, is directed toward economically distressed farmers and ranchers in high-poverty areas. The proposal was part of a $1.75 trillion social welfare and climate change package.

Gary McDowell, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, believes the state has a rare opportunity to make transformational investments to its rural and agricultural infrastructure. McDowell believes part of the billions of federal rescue dollars sent to Michigan in coronavirus relief packages could be spent in ways that address some of the issues caused by the pandemic, like supply shortages, both in the immediate and foreseeable future.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $272 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for 270,000 people living in rural communities across 37 states and Puerto Rico. The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage. The program serves people and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.

From investing in broadband, water, sewer, community facilities, and housing, the person who oversees the Rural Development mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a vast array of responsibilities. The new leader of USDA's rural development efforts wants to underscore the importance and diversity of farm country and "making sure that all of our country knows how crucial rural America is for our success."