USDA Deputy Under Secretary Patrice Kunesh and Tennessee State Director Bobby Goode today joined United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) in announcing funds for two initiatives to improve the lives of USET’s 26-member Tribes.
“We are honored to announce this funding and celebrate USET’s hard work, vision and partnership with USDA,” Kunesh said. “These grants will help create jobs as well as improve infrastructure in and around Native American communities.”
USDA is providing a $63,400 Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) to help USET develop a comprehensive, regional economic development strategy linking 26 member tribes in the south and eastern United States. The organization is also receiving a $90,000 Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) grant to help USET improve wastewater infrastructure in rural Tribal areas.
Both grants are being provided by USDA Rural Development, which has a variety of loan and grant programs to invest in jobs, infrastructure, community development, health, education, homeownership and affordable rental housing to improve the economic health of rural communities. Since 2010, USDA has helped more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 158 communities, investing more than $3.7 billion into local economies through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants.
For more information on Rural Development programs available in Middle Tennessee, contact the Rural Development Area Office in Nashville at 615-783-1359 or toll free (800) 342-3149 ext. 1359, and find more details on all our economic programs at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.