USDA Helped 7 Million Rural Residents with $1.5 Billion in 2017

From the January 29, 2018 “Morning Ag Clips”

The Morning Ag Clips article presents a summary of the USDA Rural Development report to President Trump from Secretary Perdue for 2017. The USDA carries the report on its website, but news articles are, at best, hard to find on the site. We think you may want to know what Rural Development has done this past year for your constituents.

USDA Rural Development provided loans and grants to rural areas of the country to aid those areas with money to help schools, libraries, fire and police facilities, and other public/community needs. In 2017 the USDA provided loans and grants, mostly low interest loans, amounting to $1.5 billion to help a total of seven million people with approximately 400 projects.

Our CSG Eastern Region had nine of its eleven states participate. Only Massachusetts and New Hampshire did not have a project included this year. One example that affected one of our states is a $775,000 loan for two counties in north central Pennsylvania to purchase a building to house Head Start in Williamsport.

The 43 page report states “The USDA provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas.” Through assistance with business opportunities, housing, infrastructure and community services that help people, such as schools, health care facilities, and high speed internet availability.

The Morning Ag Clips article can be found here, and the full Report from USDA Rural Development to the President can be found here.