Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is seeking applications for grants to make housing repairs for low- and very-low-income rural residents. The grants are being provided through USDA Rural Development's Housing Preservation Grant program.
“These grants help rural homeowners and rental housing owners repair and improve their properties,” Vilsack said. “Funds may be used to resolve health or safety issues, make accessibility modifications for people with disabilities, or make energy-efficiency improvements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower utility costs.”
Eligible applicants for Housing Preservation Grants include town or county governments, public agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and non-profit and faith-based organizations. USDA does not provide funding directly to homeowners under this program. For additional eligibility information, see page 28943 of the May 20, 2015 Federal Register.
“This program provides funding to local organizations that knows the needs of their community and wants to help,” said Tennessee State Director Bobby Goode.
Last year, USDA provided Housing Preservation Grants for 107 projects in 46 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Three Tennessee organizations received more than $136,000 to help rural families repair and rehabilitate their homes.
USDA is making up to $3.3 million in grants available in Fiscal Year 2015. Pre-applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 6, 2015.
USDA Rural Development is moving investments to rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty. Since 2009, the agency has assisted more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 230 communities in all 95 counties of Tennessee, investing more than $5.4 Billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.