USDA aids rural areas with $209M

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development invested $209 million in rural parts of Nevada in fiscal year 2013, said Sarah Adler, the agency’s Rural Development state director.

Adler, whose office is in Carson City, divulged details of the amounts distributed for housing, business and community and help offered for community development in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

“Long term results are often tied to the commitment and tenacity of a handful of outstanding individuals,” Adler said of people in rural areas with whom her personnel work. She said such people do much in their communities, including securing federal funds and giving time to “work tirelessly to get projects completed.”

For the third year in a row, according to an Adler news release, USDA’s rural development Nevada housing program broke its record in home ownership investment terms. USDA rural development brought 914 families into home ownership with more than $149 million in home loans and guarantees of private sector mortgages for low to moderate income people in rural areas, the release said.

Rental assistance amounted to $6.4 million and a home-repair program provided; more than a quarter-million more went for seniors’ home repairs.

The business program invested $9.6 million statewide in rural areas, including $8 million for four guaranteed business and industry projects.

Community programs amounted to more than $42 million for “critically needed community services.” Community facility direct loans provided $18.1 million and USDA rural development’s water and environmental program invested more than $22 million in loans and grants for water and wastewater-treatment systems.

In addition, Adler said, USDA personnel provide expertise to help rural communities with community-development initiatives.

“We support them finding a path forward to a more sustainable future,” she said, “whether that comes from our programs, our partners’ programs, or their own initiative and good ideas.”