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USDA Rural Development Invites Comments on Loan Guarantee Program Regulatory Reform

Name
Erin McDuff
City
Portland
Release Date

Update September 12, 2018: Due to the incoming hurricane and the projected impact on the mid-Atlantic area, the Northeastern Region listening session scheduled for Friday, September 14, in Pennsylvania has been postponed.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and look forward to announcing a new date for the session soon.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is soliciting feedback on a plan to increase access to capital in rural areas by streamlining regulations and developing a common platform to deliver four Rural Development loan guarantee programs that provide funding to support rural businesses and critical infrastructure.

The proposed OneRD Guaranteed Loan Rule will simplify the application process for these programs, incorporate modern lending practices, accelerate the loan approval process, and increase the amount of capital available in rural communities. The consolidated regulation would apply to the Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program, Water and Waste Disposal Guaranteed Loan Program, Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program, and the Rural Energy for America Program.

Input from the public is vital to ensure changes to these loan guarantee programs meet expectations, continue to support the mission of Rural Development, and avoid overly burdening customers. Throughout September, the Rural Development Innovation Center will host listening sessions to solicit in-person comments on these proposed reforms. You are invited to participate in any of the upcoming sessions:

          Western Region Listening Session
          September 10 @ 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. PDT
          Location: Denver, Colorado
          Register to attend virtually

          Southern Region Listening Session
          September 10 @ 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PDT
          Location: Lexington, Kentucky
          Register to attend virtually

          Midwestern Region Listening Session
          September 12 @ 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PDT
          Location: Lake Ozark, Missouri
          Register to attend virtually

          POSTPONED: Northeastern Region Listening Session
          TBD (previously scheduled for September 14 @ 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. PDT)
          Location: East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
          Register to attend virtually

          Tribal Listening Session
          September 19 @ 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. PDT
          Location: Virtual only
          Register to attend virtually

          National Listening Session
          September 20 @ 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. PDT
          Location: Washington, D.C.
          Register to attend virtually

You may also submit written comments by October 22, 2018, using either of the following methods:

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
In the search box, search for the term "OneRD Guaranteed Loan Regulation" and select "Comment Now" to the right of the search result.

2. Postal Mail / Commercial Delivery:
When submitting comments by mail, please state that your comments refer to the OneRD Guaranteed Loan Rule. Comments may be sent to the following address:

          USDA Rural Development
          Innovation Center, Regulations Management Team
          ATTN: Michele Brooks, Team Lead
          1400 Independence Avenue
          Stop 1522, Room 5159
          Washington, DC 20250-1522

For additional information, see page 45091 of the September 5, 2018, Federal Register. Questions related to the proposed OneRD Guaranteed Loan Rule and the September listening sessions may be directed to the Rural Development Innovation Center.