Projects to Help Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic, Address Impacts of Climate Change and Advance Equity Will Receive Funding Priority
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San Juan, Puerto Rico- September 13, 2021 –USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today announced that USDA Rural Development will give funding priority points for projects to address some of the top challenges in Rural America.
Luis R. García, USDA Rural Development Acting State Director for Puerto Rico indicated this funding priority supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s mission to help the rural America build back better. USDA will notify stakeholders that a program is offering funding priority when the program’s application window opens and will continue update the Priority Points Program Chart. Rural Development will award priority points on funding applications for projects that will:
1) Help rural communities recover economically from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in disadvantage communities.
2) Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and will benefits from projects Rural Development funds.
3) Reduce climate pollution and increase resiliency to the impacts of climate change by providing economic support to rural communities.
USDA is incorporating these key priorities into work across the agency. The Department is working with our partners to encourage potential applicants to focus on strategic investments that complements these priorities. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
Application scoring criteria for the programs offering priority points will be included in funding announcements and published in the Federal Register when the application window opens.
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page. You can follow us at @RD_PuertoRico.
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