NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 16, 2022 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced today that USDA is investing $102 million to expand access to housing and water infrastructure for underserved rural people who live and work in 47 states and American Samoa. The 263 projects in which USDA is investing will create economic opportunities and improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in rural America. Tennessee State Director Arlisa Armstrong is pleased to announce more than $1.2million in investments will go to rehabilitate homes and provide technical assistance in rural eastern counties of Tennessee.
The investments are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensure that people living in rural America have equitable access to the infrastructure and economic opportunities they deserve.
“Today’s investments will enable rural residents of East Tennessee to have equitable access to housing and technical assistance,” Armstrong said. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to investing in our rural communities regardless of income and circumstantial situations.”
Background:
Torres Small highlighted investments that USDA is making in 11 programs specifically designed to help people and communities in underserved rural areas. These programs are Water and Waste Disposal Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands and Colonias, Appalachian Regional Commission Grants, Delta Health Care Grants, Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grants, Housing Preservation Grants, Rural Community Development Initiative Grants, Tribal College Initiative Grants, Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants, Rural and Native Alaskan Village Grants, Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants and Community Facilities Disaster Grant Program.
The funding will benefit hundreds of thousands of people in 47 states and American Samoa. It reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development addresses economic development, infrastructure and social service needs for rural residents and communities.
In Tennessee:
- Appalachia Service Project is receiving a $120,000 Housing Preservation Grant to assist very-low income homeowners which will entail a variety of home repairs and improvements projects for 16 owner-occupied homes in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties.
- Clinch-Powell Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc is receiving a $180,000 Housing Preservation Grant to assist 20 very-low income homeowners which will entail a variety of home repairs and improvements projects for owner-occupied homes in Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, and Union counties.
- East Tennessee Development District is receiving a $180,490 Housing Preservation Grant to assist 16 very-low income homeowners which will entail a variety of home repairs and improvements projects for owner-occupied homes in Morgan, Scott, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, and Cocke counties.
- Mountain T.O.P. Inc is receiving a $150,000 Housing Preservation Grant to assist 12 very-low income homeowners which will entail a variety of home repairs and improvements projects for owner-occupied homes in Grundy county.
- Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties is receiving a $109,250 Housing Preservation Grant to help three low-income homeowners to make needed repairs or accessibility improvements to their homes in Roane County. This project will improve the housing conditions and the quality of life of the selected Roane County residents.
- Clinch River Habitat for Humanity is receiving a $74,580 Housing Preservation Grant to help four very low or low-income homeowners make needed repairs or accessibility improvements to their existing homes in Anderson or Roane County.
- Loudon County Habitat for Humanity is receiving a $161,000 Housing Preservation Grant to help 10 qualified low-income homeowners to make needed repairs or accessibility improvements to their existing homes in Loudon County.
- Knoxville Leadership Foundation is receiving a $250,000 Rural Community Development Initiative Grant to provide technical assistance for capacity building to eight recipients in rural east Tennessee. This assistance will enable the recipients to better address stressors exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and will build capacity in foundational areas such as leadership, strategic program development, and sustainability. This project will benefit the more than 57,900 residents within the service area of the recipients which are located in Newport, Huntsville, LaFollette, Wartburg, Andersonville, Jefferson City, Oneida, and Morristown, Tennessee.
The awards announced today are being made in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and American Samoa.
These investments are in addition to the recent expansion of the Rural Partners Network (RPN), which is central to President Biden’s commitment to ensure all rural people can benefit from federal resources. Led by USDA with support from more than 20 federal agencies and commissions, RPN is part of an all-of-government strategy to champion rural people and places, including Native American communities.
Under the leadership of 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.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, 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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