Rural Development

1. Rural Development Community Programs

2. Who Is Rural Development? • Our Mission: • “Increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural America” • Our Objective: • Provide affordable financial assistance to small rural communities to: • Enhance business and economic development • Improve infrastructure development • Create community development • Provide housing opportunities to all rural citizens

3. Three Program Areas • Rural Business and Cooperatives • Economic development and technical support assistance • Housing • Single and Multi-family housing opportunities • Community Programs • Healthcare, public safety, public services, water, wastewater, solid waste disposal, storm water drainage, electric, telephone services, distance learning, and telemedicine

4. Community Facilities • Health care • Clinics, hospitals, ambulatory care centers • Assisted living and nursing home facilities • Telecommunications • Medical or educational telecommunication links • Public Safety • Communication centers • Police, fire, or rescue stations, vehicles and jails • Public Services • Adult and child daycare, shelters, and community centers • Public transportation • Schools, libraries, and municipal buildings

5. What Can Community Facilities Funds Be Used For? • Acquire land • Construct, enlarge, or rehabilitate facilities • Purchase equipment • Pay professional fees • Legal • Architectural • Engineering • Environmental

6. Eligibility Criteria The Applicant • The Applicant • Public entities • Non-profit • Faith Based Organizations • Indian Tribes • Rural Service Areas • Populations up to but no greater than 20,000 Population Income

7. Rural Utilities Water & Environmental Programs • Water • Wastewater • Solid Waste Disposal • Storm Water Drainage • Technical Assistance

8. What Can Rural Utilities Funds Be Used For? • New construction • Expansion • Improvements • Transmission or distribution systems • Adequate supply • Treatment and storage facilities • Pay Professional Fees • Legal • Engineering • Environmental

9. Eligibility Criteria The Applicant • The Applicant • Public entities • Non-profit • Indian Tribes • Rural Service Areas • Populations up to but no greater than 10,000 Population Income

10. How Can We Help Your Community? • Direct Loans • Interest rates vary based on the current market yields and Median Household Income (MHI) of community served • Maximum term for all loans is 40 years • Guaranteed Loans • Terms and interest rates are negotiated between the lender and applicant • Loan may be guaranteed up to 90% with 1% guarantee fee • Grants • Available for up to 75% of project costs • Population, MHI, and Virginia’s allocation of funds determines the percent of grant funds • Technical Assistance Grants • Assist in identifying and evaluating solutions to water and waste disposal problems. • Reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources • Improve planning and management of solid waste sites

11. Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Program • Provide financial assistance to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America through the use of advanced telecommunications technologies. • Eligibility Criteria • State or local units of government • Profit or non-profit organizations and private corporations • Indian Tribes • Consortiums

12. How Can DLT Help Your Community? • Grants • Assistance available for 100% of project costs • Grants are competitive, must meet specific criteria, and matching requirements • Loans • Assistance available for 100% noncompetitive financing, with a $50,000 minimum • Include funding for project operating cost and educational broadcasting for distance learning during the first two years • Combination Loan and Grant • Noncompetitive, accepted year round, no matching requirements, a minimum of $50,000 • Maximum loan term under DLT program is 10 years

13. Acquiring The Best Financial Package • What options are best for the community? • The “Big Picture” approach to funding • Various resources and partnerships to consider • Virginia State Funding Agencies • Other Federal Funding Agencies • Private Banks • Philanthropic Organizations

14. Where to Locate Program Information? • Community Facilities or Rural Utilities Programs • Applications are accepted year round (October 1st – September 30th) • Submit applications to designated Rural Development Area Office • For program information, regulations, and forms visit our website: • www.rurdev.usda.gov • Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program • For application assistance, contact Virginia/North Carolina General Field Representative, Patrick Carey • Email:patrick.carey@usda.gov • Phone: (704) 896-8402 • Applications are submitted to the Telecommunication Program in Washington D.C. • For program information, regulations, applications guides, and funding announcements, visit our website: • http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm

15. Area Office Information

16. Area 1 - Lebanon (Southwest Area Office) • Contact Information: • Area Director: Sally Hamer • Address: 383 Highland Drive, Suite 5 Lebanon, Virginia 24266-4632 • Phone Number: (276) 889-4650 • Fax Number: (276) 889-2105 • Serving Counties/Cities: • Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Tazewell, Lee, Wise, Norton, Scott, Bland, Bristol, Carroll, Galax, Grayson, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe.

17. Area 2 - Lynchburg (Central Area Office) • Contact Information: • Area Director: Travis Jackson • Address: P.O. Box 4337, 20311-A Timberlake Road Lynchburg, Virginia 24502-0337 • Phone Number: (434) 239-3473 • Fax Number: (434) 239-3735 • Serving Counties/Cities: • Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Danville, Pittsylvania, Alleghany, Botetourt, Covington, Craig, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Radford, Roanoke, Salem, Franklin, Henry, Martinsville, Patrick, Lexington, Buena Vista, Rockbridge, Halifax, Lynchburg, and Bath.

18. Area 3 - Harrisonburg (Northern Area Office) • Contact Information: • Area Director: Elizabeth Walker • Address: 1934 Deyerle Avenue, Suite D Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801-3484 • Phone Number: (540) 433-9126 • Fax Number: (540) 432-1707 • Serving Counties/Cities: • Albemarle, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Madison, Rappahannock, Arlington, Caroline, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Hanover, King George, Loudoun, Manassas, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, Winchester, Augusta, Harrisonburg, Highland, Rockingham, Staunton, and Waynesboro.

19. Area 4 - Courtland (Southeast Area Office) • Contact Information: • Area Director: Steve Bigelow • Address: 22329 Main Street, Southampton Office Bldg. 2 Courtland, Virginia 23837-1026 • Phone Number: (757) 653-2532 • Fax Number: (757) 653-2278 • Serving Counties/Cities: • Accomack, Northampton, Brunswick, Mecklenburg, Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Henrico, Hopewell, James City, New Kent, Petersburg, Prince George, York, Williamsburg, Amelia, Buckingham, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Emporia, Franklin, Greensville, Isle of Wight, Poquoson, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Chesapeake, Hampton, and Westmoreland.