USDA Announces Investments in Rural Community Facilities That Will Benefit More Than 761,000 Americans - Middle Tennessee Project to Receive Funding of over $8.8 Million.

Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $291 million to build or improve community infrastructure and essential services for 761,000 residents in 18 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Tennessee Rural Development State Director Jim Tracy is pleased to announce that in Tennessee, funding will benefit a college in Giles Co.

 “Having access to a quality education in our rural areas cannot be overstated,” Tracy said. “By utilizing USDA programs, colleges can be in a better position to increase funding while reducing established operating costs.”

   USDA is investing in 41 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. The funding helps rural small towns, cities and communities make infrastructure improvements and provide essential facilities such as schools, libraries, courthouses, public safety facilities, hospitals, colleges and day care centers. In Tennessee:

• Reveille Properties, LLC received an investment of $8.8 million which will be used to purchase five buildings from Martin Methodist College, and the college will lease the buildings from Reveille Properties. Selling the buildings will save the college money by eliminating debt service costs. This will allow the college to invest more in education and other issues directly related to its mission. The college is in Pulaski and has an enrollment of nearly 1,000 students.

   In addition to Tennessee, the projects announced today will help improve the quality of life in rural areas in Alaska, Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington.

   More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities program funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally and state-recognized Native American tribes. Applicants and projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less. Loan amounts have ranged from $10,000 to $165 million.

    In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

   To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).

   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.