Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA is seeking pre-applications for Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants for Fiscal Year 2018.
This program provides funding to construct, improve, repair and purchase housing for domestic farm laborers. Eligible applicants include farmers, associations of farmworkers, most state and local government entities, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribes. A full list of funding uses and eligible applicants can be found in Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
For FY 2018, USDA plans to award up to $23.8 million in low-interest loans and $8.3 million in grants. The maximum grant is $1.5 million and cannot exceed 90 percent of the project cost. Pre-applications are due Aug. 27, 2018, to the Rural Development State Office where the project is located. For a list of offices, visit the state office website. For additional details, see page 30106 of the June 27 Federal Register.
USDA encourages applications that will support recommendations made in the report to the President from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to help improve life in rural America. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships and innovation. Key strategies include:
-
Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
-
Developing the Rural Economy
-
Harnessing Technological Innovation
-
Supporting a Rural Workforce
-
Improving Quality of Life