Rural Development invests more than $1 billion in Missouri programs

A record $1,126,083,749 was invested in rural Missouri last year through the USDA Rural Development programs.

These federal funds were expended through a variety of loan and grant programs to provide quality housing, good jobs, clean drinking water, renewal energy alternatives, broadband service plus reliable modern essential community facilities and services, a press release said.

"It is very rewarding and exciting to witness the economic stimulus these programs provide," said Anita J. Dunning, Missouri state director for USDA Rural Development. "I am very grateful for the teamwork and partnerships that make delivery of these programs possible to help individuals, families, businesses and communities across Missouri. I appreciate the help from the volunteers, the non-profit organizations, other partner financial organizations plus the local and state governments. I especially appreciate the strong support that we receive from the Missouri Congressional delegation in serving the rural areas of Missouri."

United States Senator Kit Bond said, "The housing and economic development programs as well as the infrastructure and public safety improvements these funds support take on greater importance as our nation's economy continues to struggle. I congratulate and thank the local, community and USDA leaders who partnered together to make today's announcement possible."

And U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said, "Across Missouri, it has been great to see our rural communities benefiting with over $1 billion dollars returned to the state through the USDA's Rural Develop-ment program,

These funds have helped improve the infrastructure and services provided throughout the state through a fair process that gives Missouri's communities a chance to compete for, and clearly earn, their fair share of tax dollars."

Some of the Rural Development fiscal year 2009 investment highlights contributing toward improving the quality of life in rural Missouri into the 21st century include the following: In the Rural Development Single Family Housing Program, $578.2 million was provided to individuals and families for homeownership and/or rehabilitation of their homes in Missouri. Of this amount, $542.4 million of loan guarantees to 5,337 individuals or families were provided through partnerships with private sector lenders. The other $35.6 million was provided to 847 deserving individuals or families through the direct housing programs. Through the Housing Preservation Grant Program, two grants totaling $150,000 were provided to organizations that then assisted 26 additional families to repair their homes.

In the Multi-Family Housing Programs, over $23.5 million in assistance was made available. A substantial portion of this amount, $19.8 million assisted more than 8,700 residents who were residing in Rural Development-financed apartment complexes with their rental payments. In addition to providing this rental assistance, Missouri provided $421,032 in voucher assistance to assist those residents that were residing in 55 RD financed properties that are no longer in the Rural Development portfolio. This assistance helped 265 residents find suitable housing to avoid being displaced or even the possibility of becoming homeless.

Four Multi-Family Housing complexes received Preservation and Revitalization loans and grants in the amount of $2,298,403 and loan deferrals in the amount of $1,016,933. The purpose of this program is to preserve and revitalize existing multi-family housing apartment complexes in rural communities for another 20 years. The borrowers that were selected will be allowed to defer their payments which will in turn be used to make much needed capital improvements to their property. This program will be preserving affordable housing for 126 very-low and low income households.

Through the Community Facilities program, at total of more than $32 million was provided to 138 projects including 49 fire and rescue projects, 35 first responders and early warning systems, six health care facilities, four food banks and Head Start facilities.

In Rural Development's Business and Cooperative Programs a grand total of $42.7 million was delivered to rural Missouri. Of this amount, more than $36.6 million in guaranteed loans was made with our commercial lending partners, which provided assistance to 14 businesses across the state. Guaranteed loan funds were used to provide financing to businesses including manufacturing, grain handling facilities, farm equipment dealers, hotels, health and dental care, and assisted living facilities. These loan guarantees resulted in a total of 258 jobs being created or saved in Missouri's rural areas.

Several cities, communities, counties and organizations were recipients of more than $6.1 million through other Rural Development loan and grant programs. These included over $1.35 million for 20 Rural Business Enterprise Grants, 13 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Grants for $487,334, two Rural Economic Development Grants for $1,040,000 and one Intermediary Relending Program loan for $500,000. In the energy program six recipients benefited with $2.55 million in the advanced biofuels program, and $200,000 for energy audits to two electric providers. All of these programs allowed rural Missourians to benefit from new jobs, access to essential public infrastructure and facilities, reduced energy consumption, feasibility studies, and training in support of economic and community development activities in rural areas.

In the Rural Development Rural Utilities Services program, a total of $449.6 million in assistance was provided to communities, including water and wastewater, telephone and electrical distribution.

In the water and wastewater area, $93.4 million was made available. The direct program totaled $93.2 million with 45 direct loans and 40 grants, assisting more than 29,399 families with adequate drinking water and new or improved waste disposal systems. The USDA funds were leveraged with $10.6 million of other federal, state, and local funds to fund these accomplishments.

Six communities benefited with $36,000 in Predevelopment Planning Grants. These funds will be used for preliminary Engineering and Environmental Reports. One Technical Assistance Training grant was awarded for $80,000 and one Solid Waste Management grant was awarded for $50,000. In the Telephone programs, a total of $1.5 million in financing was made available to assist Missouri rural areas. Four rural communities benefited from the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants for a little over $1 million including two that were to health related entities and two that were awarded to schools for additional educational opportunities. Another $471,905 was provided for a Community Connect Broadband grant to provide Internet services for rural communities.

In the Electric programs, a total of $354.7 million was provided to two power supply cooperatives and 10 distribution electric cooperatives to expand and improve assistance to several communities and rural residents.

Dunning added, "I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the many partners that assisted the Missouri USDA Rural Development staff with these accomplishments.

"It is definitely a tean effort. With continued cooperation, we look forward to helping more individuals, families, businesses and communities with enhanced economic opportunity and improved quality of life in rural Missouri."

For more information, visit the USDA's Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/mo/ or contact the Area III Office of Rural Development at 1306 North Second Street, Clinton, MO 64735, or call (660) 885-5567, ext. 5.