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USDA Rural Development Participating in June 10 Workforce Housing Task Force Summit in Fort Madison

Name
Darin Leach
City
Des Moines
Release Date

Representatives from USDA Rural Development will be in Fort Madison on Wednesday, June 10th to participate in a discussion about housing opportunities in southeast Iowa, northeastern Missouri and western Illinois. The event is being sponsored by the Tri-State Development Summit.

“Throughout June USDA employees are celebrating National Homeownership Month with events across the nation that demonstrate our commitment to provide affordable housing opportunities for rural Americans with limited means,” said Vernita Dore, USDA Rural Development Acting Deputy Under Secretary.

Dore will be giving the keynote address at the Workforce Housing Task Force Summit in Fort Madison. Other scheduled presenters include: Rick Bloxham with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Nicole Clements with the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, Melford Ferguson with NeighborWorks, Donald Patrick and Carla Potts with North East Community Action Corporation, Dan Eberhardt with Southeast Iowa Regional Planning; Elaine Davis with Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials, along with a representative from the Tri-State Development Summit

Speakers will discuss a variety of topics including federal and state housing initiatives, innovative financing opportunities and faith-based partnerships.   The meeting will take place at the former Fort Madison Middle School which has been transformed into a 38-unit apartment complex.  The project is the largest solar energy provider of any residential building in Iowa.

“USDA looks forward to working with our partners and stakeholders to help very-low-income to moderate-income rural families build a better future through homeownership,” Dore added. “Homeownership provides a strong foundation that helps people build household wealth, start a business, fund education through home equity, and climb ladders of economic opportunity.”

In 2013 Tri State Development Summit was awarded a USDA Great Region designation recognizing its work to supports rural communities that work together on a multi-county or regional basis, with a focus on the development and implementation of ground-level economic development plans.

USDA Rural Development’s funding continues to have a dramatic impact on rural communities across Iowa. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has invested more than $3 billion on essential public facilities, small and emerging businesses, water and sewer systems, and housing opportunities for Iowa families.

This past year USDA Rural Development’s investment in Iowa helped create or retain more than 1,000 jobs, aided 2,400 families in buying their own homes and assisted more than 60 communities as they made improvements to their facilities, services and infrastructure.

Contact USDA Rural Development
Residents, businesses and communities in Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Van Buren and Washington Counties are served by the USDA Rural Development office in Mount Pleasant. For more information please call (319) 986-5800 ext. 4 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia.

USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities.  Office locations include a State Office in Des Moines, along with Area Offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.

President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities.  Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.