USDA Rural Development State Director Patty Clark announced that Builders Development Corporation is receiving a $1.7 million loan and $1.1 million grant to develop affordable apartments in Ulysses. The apartments will help provide safe and sanitary housing for farmworkers. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan and grant agreement.
“The federal government recognizes the importance of agricultural laborers to the economy, and providing them with access to safe and affordable housing is a priority,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Patty Clark. “USDA Rural Development partners with state government and communities across Kansas to address the shortage of homes in rural Kansas and to help find solutions.”
Today's funding is provided through USDA’s Farm Labor Housing Program. The program is available for organizations to buy, build, improve or repair housing for farm laborers.
In Ulysses, this is the third phase of Grant Prairie Townhomes to be built, which will bring the total to 34 units. During this phase, the developer is building 10, two-bedroom units and 8, three-bedroom units. The units include a safe room, one car garage, walking path and a community garden.
Two other communities in Kansas have also benefited from USDA’s Farm Labor Housing program. Dodge City and Rexford added a total of 19 units of housing for farm laborers through the program.
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (@USDARD) has helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 7,000 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; invested $31.3 billion in 963 electric projects that have financed more than 185,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving 4.6 million rural residents; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. USDA also has invested $11 billion to start or expand 103,000 rural businesses. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.