RALEIGH, North Carolina--USDA Rural Development North Carolina is a leader in making sure people, no matter where they live, have access to quality opportunities.

There is no better example of this than USDA’s investment into four North Carolina charter schools located in rural counties.

The Department of Agriculture has invested $57 million into North Carolina Charter Schools in Bladen, Franklin, Henderson, Vance counties since 2021. 

“The students in Rural North Carolina are receiving quality education from some of the best educators in the United States,” said Rural Development State Director Reginald Speight. “USDA Rural Development is working with North Carolina charter schools to avail the next generation of leaders with every possible resource to have success.”

• In Bladen County, the Emerau Foundation used $11.4 million in USDA Community Facilities Loans to purchase a 48 thousand square ft building and 30 acres of land to facilitate the education of 900 students in grades K-12.
   
• In Franklin County, Youngsville Academy Charter School Inc., used $25.3 million in USDA CF Loans to purchase 53 thousand square ft building and 20 acres of land and construct a gymnasium to facilitate the education of 540 students in grades K-8.
   
• In Henderson County, Fernleaf Community Charter School, used $13.1 million in USDA CF Loans to construct new 40 thousand square foot building to facilitate the education of 621 students in grades K-10. 
   
• In Vance County, Henderson Collegiate used a $7.5 million USDA CF Loan to construct a 30 thousand square ft building for dance, band, and physical education classes.

USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced the expansion of Henderson Collegiate during a ceremony at the school in February 2023.

In her remarks the Deputy Secretary spoke on the importance of education, no matter the location.

“Good quality education shouldn’t depend on your zip code,” Torres Small said. “That's why we work with rural communities and partners to expand schools and learning opportunities like those offered at Henderson Collegiate. USDA is making investments like these so the next generation can help build a secure and successful future for all in rural communities in North Carolina and across the country.”

Many charter schools begin with educators coming together with a common vision. Receiving funding to begin the or expand can be challenging.

 According to Oxford Preparatory School Executive Director Andrew Swanner, when the school began they were rubbing two pennies together and when the school’s educational leadership decided to expand they were facing numerous challenges in meeting the funding requirements to continue development. USDA assisted the process and the school now sits in two building and is serving grades K-12.

Oxford Preparatory School utilized $19.6 million in USDA CF loans between 2018 and 2020 to purchase a 38 thousand square ft. building on 11.5 acres of land in Granville County, North Carolina, and construct a new schoolhouse on the grounds to expand their student base to 475 students in grades K-12.

“The USDA was the most accessible and generous funding source that allowed us to achieve our facility outcomes in the 12 years we have been open,” said Swanner. “To have facilities we have and see the level of grade growth, starting with one grade and expanding to 12, in a matter of seven years, in we would not have expanded on the level we have without the assistance of USDA.”

The objective of the USDA Rural Development Community Facility Loans and Grants Program is to provide affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.

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