Across Vermont, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has touched families, communities and businesses through its Rural Development programs. In 2015, USDA Rural Development, an arm of the USDA devoted to strengthening rural America, invested $181,525,031 in support of a diverse range of local projects aimed at increasing the quality of life in the Green Mountain State.
“By supporting projects such as energy upgrades for business, home repairs for families, and new infrastructure for communities, Rural Development helped Vermont’s rural communities invest in themselves last year,” said Vermont and New Hampshire USDA Rural Development State Director Ted Brady. “USDA helped thousands of families, hundreds of businesses, and dozens of communities find new opportunities through homeownership, new jobs and new community assets.”
In 2015, the USDA continued its decades-old commitment to ensuring Vermonters have access to safe and affordable housing. In Milton, first-time homeowner Kayla Carrier and her two daughters purchased a home through USDA’s Single Family Direct Loan Program – which gives low and moderate income homeowners the chance to buy a home with no down payment at a fixed, low interest rate. More than 1,800 other families like the Carriers used USDA housing programs in 2015 to either buy or rent their homes in Vermont.
In the Town of St. Johnsbury, roughly 1,500 water system users will gain access to improved wastewater services thanks to USDA’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. Across the state, USDA Rural Development worked closely with municipal and non-profit community service providers strategically directing its Community Facility and Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program in low and moderate income areas to strengthen community services and improve opportunities for growth.
After receiving a Rural Business Development Grant, Food Connects of Brattleboro purchased a refrigerated delivery truck to directly link food producers with consumers and strengthen Windham County’s local food economy. Throughout the state, USDA Rural Development’s Business Programs helped businesses, municipalities and non-profits, like Food Connects, leverage Vermont’s infrastructure and skilled workforce to add and retain 681 Vermont jobs.
In 2016, the USDA will continue to work with its partners in Vermont focusing its efforts on its target initiatives of the bio-economy, local food systems and poverty alleviation. To see a complete list of USDA Rural Development’s Vermont 2015 investments, please view the 2015 Projects by County listing on our website.
The USDA, through its RD mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $212 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural areas. For more information on Rural Development visit the Vermont/New Hampshire Rural Development website (www.rd.usda.gov/nh or www.rd.usda.gov/vt ) or contact USDA RD at (802) 828-6000.