LINCOLN, NE, January 27, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development invested more than $172 million in 2019 to build prosperity and strengthen Nebraska’s rural communities, announced State Director Karl Elmshaeuser today.
“We had a prosperous year in Nebraska assisting many rural residents, communities and businesses through our various programs,” said Elmshaeuser. “I would like to thank our partners who contributed to these remarkable outcomes. It is true that USDA Rural Development and partners help rural areas to remain vital and that together America prospers.”
Below is a summary of USDA Rural Development’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 key accomplishments in Nebraska:
Infrastructure
•Invested more than $14.6 million to expand access to safe drinking water or improve wastewater management systems benefitting 6,225 Nebraskans.
Quality of Life
•Invested nearly $30.6 million in loans and grants for essential community facilities and equipment – such as fire departments, city halls, ambulances - that will benefit 53,931 rural Nebraska residents.
•Invested $500,000 in a distance learning project that will benefit an estimated 305,000 Nebraska rural residents for healthcare education through enhanced equipment and software.
•Provided nearly $98.7 million in homeownership loan guarantees to help 873 low-and moderate-income rural Nebraska residents purchase a home.
Economic Development
•Invested nearly $9.9 million in Business and Industry loan guarantees that enabled businesses to create or save 39 rural Nebraska jobs.
•Invested more than $1.1 million in 37 energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy development assistance projects through the Rural Energy for America Program.
The funding is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of the loan and grant agreements.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Supporting the rural workforce was a cornerstone recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. Learn more at www.rd.usda.gov/ne.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.