Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today highlighted some of USDA’s accomplishments during calendar year 2017 to bring prosperity to rural communities.
“Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has laid the groundwork to facilitate prosperity in rural America,” Hazlett said. “With a focus on modernizing infrastructure, building strategic partnerships and embracing innovation, our blueprint has and will continue to increase economic opportunity and create jobs in our small towns and rural places.”
Here are a few highlights of what Rural Development has accomplished this year:
In Infrastructure
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Provided funding for 34 telecommunications infrastructure projects that will deliver new or improved broadband service to more than 160,000 households and businesses;
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Financed more than 17,700 miles of new and improved electric transmission and distribution lines to help connect or improve the current connection to electricity for rural Americans nationwide due to $4.1 billion in investments;
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Invested $1.3 billion to build or improve 736 water and sewer infrastructure systems serving 2.3 million people in small rural communities with populations of 10,000 people or less;
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Invested $174 million in innovative Smart Grid technology that will help modernize rural electric systems;
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Supported 338 projects for essential community services such as schools, libraries, municipal centers, first responder vehicles and equipment, social service buildings, recreational activities and other community needs with $914 million in investments;
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Financed 67 projects to provide enhanced health care facilities and services in rural regions due to more than $563 million in investments;
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Supported 25 community infrastructure projects that will improve rural streets, transportation, aviation, ports, water and storm water resources, and energy production and generation because of $30 million in investments;
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Helped 121,351 very-low-, low- and moderate-income rural residents buy homes;
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Helped 5,654 very-low-income rural homeowners repair their homes;
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Provided 468,206 units of affordable, safe rental housing;
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Built or rehabilitated 6,228 units of affordable rental housing.
In Partnerships
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Strengthened relationships with our partners who help rural communities recover from current and future natural disasters. Last month, Rural Development awarded critical funding to help rural water and sewer utilities assess damage, develop rebuilding plans and get access to technical assistance and clean water after hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria;
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Invested in 8,563 rural businesses that started or expanded operations, creating or saving 41,185 jobs in rural communities in all 50 states and U.S. territories;
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Partnered with businesses and private lenders to build manufacturing plants, health care and energy systems, and support infrastructure in our rural communities with a record number of business loans – totaling more than $1.3 billion – and more than $2 billion in leveraged non-USDA investments;
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For the first time, partnered with rural businesses to help expand broadband access in rural areas with $15 million in loans;
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Helped rural businesses generate or save the equivalent of 3.45 million megawatt hours of electricity annually, which is the equivalent of what 300,000 average households use per year.
In Innovation
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Identified 14 regulations that will be rewritten or eliminated to better serve our customers by removing barriers preventing them from readily accessing USDA programs;
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Simplified the application process to make it easier for our customers to apply for electric infrastructure loans and distance learning and telemedicine grants;
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The Secretary created a Rural Development Innovation Center. The Center is developing new ways to use USDA resources more effectively to help rural communities.
This Administration has also made many operational changes to better serve our customers. Soon after taking office, Secretary Perdue brought the Rural Development mission area directly under his leadership.
Secretary Perdue is leading the president’s Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to improve the way government agencies work with stakeholders to help rural areas. The Task Force is focusing on developing a reliable rural workforce and eliminating regulations that prevent rural communities from being able to grow and thrive.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.