USDA is awarding approximately $12.7 million in grants and loans to support 14 economic development projects designed to help rural and tribal communities meet their immediate needs and create sustainable economic growth. Many of these projects are the direct result of collaborations between community networks and federal RPN staff who live and work in the communities.
“We are announcing a new series of economic development projects to reduce costs, create jobs, and modernize critical infrastructure in rural and tribal communities participating in the Rural Partners Network,” Reginald Speight, state director of rural development, said in a news release. “Many of these projects are the direct result of collaboration between community members and federal RPN employees who live and work in the communities.”
Projects will reduce costs for families and small businesses, create jobs, and expand business opportunities. Communities will use the funds to transition to clean energy, modernize infrastructure, provide affordable housing, and improve water and food supplies to communities.
For example:
In Bladen County, Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial Inc. of Bladen will use a $150,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development grant to help a health care provider relocate to the Elizabethtown area to provide primary care and dermatology services in the county.
In Bladen County, Gooden Village NC LLC will utilize a $776,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Multifamily Housing Loan (MFHL) to support the transfer, acquisition, and rehabilitation of a Section 515 multifamily housing complex for seniors. The project consists of 24 one-bedroom apartments.
In Robeson County, Woodfield Apts NC LLC will utilize an $897,000 MFHL grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist in the transfer, acquisition and redevelopment of Woodfield Apartments, a Section 515 senior housing multifamily complex. The project consists of 28 two-bedroom apartments and four three-bedroom apartments.
In Robeson County, Brookside NC LLC will utilize a $930,000 MFHL grant to assist with the transfer, acquisition and redevelopment of Brookside Apartments, a Section 515 multifamily housing complex. The project consists of 10 one-bedroom and 22 two-bedroom units.
In Robeson County, the Rowland Rural Fire Department Inc. will utilize a $56,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Facilities Loan to purchase firefighting equipment for the Rowland Rural Fire Department Inc. The purchase includes truck equipment, including turnout gear, portable radios, vehicle radios and pagers.
Nationwide, USDA is awarding approximately $49 million in grants and loans to support 59 economic development projects designed to help rural and tribal communities meet immediate needs and create sustainable economic growth. The full list of investments can be found here. on-line.
The Biden-Harris administration launched the Rural Partners Network in April 2022 to ensure that people in historically underserved communities receive their fair share of funding from federal agencies. For more information about the RPN, visit Rural.gov.
