The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is now accepting pre-applications for loans and grants to develop housing for year-round and migrant or seasonal domestic farm laborers.
Farm Labor Housing Program loans and grants may be used to construct off-farm rental housing for domestic farm laborers. USDA funding may also be used to purchase and substantially rehabilitate currently non-farm labor housing properties for conversion to farm labor housing.
Approximately $23.8 million in low-interest loans and $8.3 million in grants is available nationwide. The maximum award amount available is $1.5 million and cannot exceed 90 percent of the project costs.
Farmers, associations of farmers, family farm corporations, associations of farmworkers and nonprofits, most state and local government entities, and federally-recognized tribes are eligible to apply.
USDA will assign additional points to pre-applications for projects based in or serving census tracts with poverty rates greater than or equal to 20 percent over the last 30 years.
Pre-applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. PST on August 27, 2018. In Oregon, applications should be submitted to the USDA Rural Development state office:
USDA Rural Development
ATTN: Diana Chappell, Multi-Family Housing Specialist
1220 SW 3rd Avenue
Suite 1801
Portland, OR 97204
For additional information and details on how to apply, see page 30106 of the June 27, 2018, Federal Register. To discuss a project proposal prior to submitting an application, contact Diana Chappell, Multi-Family Housing Specialist, (503) 414-3351.