U.S. Department of Agriculture

WINTERHAVEN, CALIFORNIA. (News Release)– The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural
Development Deputy Under Secretary Farah Ahmad announced more than 200 projects to improve infrastructure, housing and economic conditions for underserved rural and Native American communities. These projects are funded by an $81 million investment from USDA.

For example:

• In southern California, the Winterhaven County Water District is receiving a $1.5 million grant through the Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks for Colonias The district will use the funding to build a new groundwater well that will provide clean drinking water for the entire community and ensure their office building is safe and accessible for all. Winterhaven is a colonia, an economically distressed neighborhood or community within 150 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. The community previously received a Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) Grant from USDA that helped them plan and design this project.

• In Arizona, the Tohono O’odham Community College will provide solar power and help offset costs for the new Language Center Building on the main campus with a $351,000 Tribal College Initiative Grant.

• In New York, Chenango County is receiving a $200,000 Appalachian Regional Commission Grant to help renovate an outdated jet hangar and administration building at the Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport in Norwich. The improvements will lead to increased air traffic volume, ensure the airport’s long-term sustainability and create new economic opportunities for several businesses.

The investments also include more than $19 million to help low-income and very low-income residents in every part of the country repair and rehabilitate their homes.

In addition to Arizona, California and New York, the awards announced today will help finance projects in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the Marshall Islands/Micronesia.

Deputy Under Secretary Ahmad said, “The investments we’re making today will have lasting economic and social benefits that will allow current and future generations to make a good life right at home in their rural communities.”

New Web Resources for Rural Communities

USDA Rural Development also unveiled two new web resources that underscore the agency’s mission to ensure all people have equitable access to federal programs.

A new history webpage traces USDA Rural Development’s evolution from the Great Depression and New Deal to the present, highlighting the many ways the agency supports efforts to create prosperity in rural communities.

One of the agency’s more recent initiatives, the Rural Partners Network (RPN), has brought together a coalition of 24 federal agencies that offer programs and funding designed specifically for rural communities.

The information will help people in rural areas access funding for a variety of business, health care, housing, community and economic development needs.