DES MOINES, Iowa, Apr. 12, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that USDA is deploying key resources to help people and businesses in their long-term recovery and rebuilding after severe storms and tornadoes hit Madison, Polk, Jasper and Lucas counties.
“The recent storms have forever changed the lives of hundreds of people here in rural Iowa,” Greenfield said. “For as long as it takes, USDA will deploy every resource at our disposal to help families and communities rebuild their lives and their homes. That’s why we have boots on the ground across the state to assess the needs of the people we serve and help them rebuild and recover as soon as possible.”
The resources being highlighted today include USDA Rural Development’s (RD) disaster assistance fact sheet, resource guide and webpage.
RD Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet
The disaster assistance fact sheet is a one-stop-shop of Rural Development programs that can be used to help people and businesses in rural Iowa rebuild and recover from severe weather and natural disasters. The fact sheet lists state staff that people are encouraged to contact with questions about how RD can help:
- rebuild, repair or purchase homes.
- remove tree and brush debris.
- finance emergency housing.
- repair buildings such as schools and hospitals.
- replace equipment and vehicles.
- repair water and waste systems.
- support working capital needs.
- finance energy upgrades.
RD Disaster and Resiliency Resource Guide
The resource guide outlines RD programs and services that can help rural residents, businesses and communities impacted by disasters and support long-term planning and recovery efforts. A resource matrix categorizes RD programs that can support preparedness and recovery through four key assistance types:
- housing assistance, and community and economic development planning.
- infrastructure and equipment financing.
- industry, entrepreneurship and local business development.
- education and training.
The guide also includes information on technical assistance providers and other federal agencies that work with USDA to support rural communities in disaster planning and recovery efforts. It features examples of how customers have used USDA programs to support their recovery efforts.
Additional Resources
Additional resources to support rural communities seeking disaster assistance are available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.
To learn more about investment resources in rural Iowa, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/ia
As USDA continues to respond to the impacts of these weather events, the Department remains committed to delivering environmental justice to the people living in rural America now more than ever. Through its key rural infrastructure and economic development programs, USDA is helping to address disproportionate health, environmental and economic impacts on disadvantaged communities in the face of disaster.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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