(Washington, D.C., September 30, 2026) —The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development today announced a revision to the initial and annual guarantee fee structure for the Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP). Rural Development designed this change to increase affordable rural rental housing production and align with the Trump-Vance Administration’s priorities.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Michigan State Director Dom Restuccia today commemorated the ribbon cutting for Ironwood’s water system and announced a $1,064,000 loan for Rudyard Township. 

“It’s fitting that we celebrate the completion of one Upper Peninsula infrastructure project and are able to announce a new one moving forward,” said Restuccia. “Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, we are making historic infrastructure investments across rural Michigan.”

“Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Rural Development is focused on improving essential infrastructure for rural Minnesotans,” said Ditlevson. “These projects help restore prosperity and will enhance services to residents, businesses, and visitors to these northern Minnesota communities.”  

Projects receiving investments from USDA Rural Development are:

(Angier, N.C., September 19, 2026) — Members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development North Carolina team are participating in a groundbreaking ceremony with Angier and Black River Fire Department today.

The Angier and Black River Fire Department will utilize a $6 million loan through USDA’s Community Facilities Program to construct a new five bay fire station.

(Washington, D.C., September 28, 2026) — U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Administrator Karl Elmshaeuser announced today $40 million to support technical assistance and training for rural water and wastewater systems across the nation.

(Minburn, Iowa, September 25, 2026) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Glen R. Smith today announced that the agency is investing $2.6 million in a water project for the city of Minburn. He made the funding announcement at the Minburn Public Library and was joined by U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03), USDA Rural Development Iowa State Director Mike Sexton, and local city and county leaders to celebrate the news. 

(Alexandria, La., September 24, 2026) — U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Louisiana State Director Troy Romero today announced the agency is awarding a $200,000 grant to Cockeyed Farms to expand processing, marketing, and distribution of its American-grown elderberry products.

(Huron, S.D., September 24, 2026) – U.S.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Michigan State Director Dom Restuccia today announced $3.8 million to improve sewer infrastructure for the Village of Springport in Jackson County. 

“This project benefits not just Springport, but also neighboring communities in rural Jackson County,” said Restuccia. “Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, we are making a generational investment in protecting Michigan’s precious water resources for future generations.”

For communities everywhere, water is central to daily life. In 2019, however, it became a constant worry for the people of rural Worden and Ballantine in Montana. That year, residents were warned to stop drinking the tap water after testing revealed elevated levels of nitrates and nitrites. Overnight, everyday routines changed. Families, businesses, and schools shifted entirely to bottled water for all drinking and cooking needs. What was once taken for granted now arrived by the case.