Investments Will Help Rural Resident in Most Disadvantaged Areas In Washington State
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Department is investing millions to improve equitable access to jobs, business opportunities, education, housing and health care for people who live and work in rural areas. The investments are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensure that people living in rural communities have equitable access to the infrastructure and opportunities often taken for granted by people living in urban and suburban areas.
“Regardless of where they live, their race, ethnicity or gender, or the size of the town in which they live, all people must have access to decent housing, clean water and good job opportunities,” Vilsack said. “This is foundational to a healthy society and stable communities. Today’s announcements build on the historic investments made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Biden to ensure equity during a time when people living in underserved places are suffering the most. These investments will go a long way toward helping America ‘Build Back Better’ toward a just and more equitable society.”
In Washington State, USDA is making investments within three USDA programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas.
- Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Grants are awarded to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development projects in rural areas. Washington State is one of 10 states receiving funds through Rebuilding Together, which provides technical assistance, training, and financial assistance to strengthen the recipients' organizational capacity as they work in their local communities.
- Housing Preservation Grants provide funding to sponsoring organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of housing owned or occupied by low- and very-low-income rural citizens. In Washington State, HopeSource and Rebuilding Together will receive a combined $200,000 in grants to repair low income housing in Kittitas, Pierce, and Thurston counties.
- Tribal College Initiative Grants provide funding to 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) to make capital improvements to their educational facilities and to purchase equipment. In Washington State, the Northwest Indian College will receive $175,448 for the construction of a 1,152 square foot outdoor learning pavilion that will be traditionally built in the longhouse fashion with cedar shingle roof and round ply construction and limited partial walls, on South Campus. This outdoor learning pavilion will promote indigenous self-determination and knowledge through education.
The timing of the Tribal College Initiative Grant award coincides with Native American Heritage Month, which is celebrated every November to highlight the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, contributions and histories of Native people. It helps raise awareness about the unique challenges Native people face, and the ways in which Tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.
“We are pleased in the investments that are being made to support our rural communities, especially those that that will benefit most from our assistance” said Trudy Teter, Acting State Director for USDA Rural Development in Washington State.
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, 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.