USDA

Agriculture Under Secretary Lisa Mensah today announced the selection of 31 community-based organizations in 17 states and the District of Columbia for grants to help small rural communities create jobs and boost economic development. The grants are being made available through USDA Rural Development's Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the award of $31 million in loans and grants for organizations in 12 states to promote rural economic development.

Over 125,000 low income home owners to receive loans to repair or purchase homes.

Phoenix, Ariz., - March 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of up to $8.7 million in funding for bioenergy research and education efforts as well as publishing the final rule for a program that provides incentives for farmers and forest landowners interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy. Both programs are made available through the 2014 Farm Bill. The Secretary made the announcements during remarks to the Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Ariz.

WASHINGTON, DC – February 10, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) —Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that rural agricultural producers and small business owners can now...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 21, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Doug O'Brien today announced that USDA is seeking applications from eligible lenders for loan guarantees to finance the construction or rehabilitation of rural rental housing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Obama Administration's efforts to invest in infrastructure that will expand opportunity for all Americans, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded organizations in 14 states loans and grants to support rural infrastructure, job creation efforts and business development.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - April 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer today announced the availability of funding for low-interest home loans for individuals and families looking to achieve homeownership.

Knoxville, Tenn., - March 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA Rural Housing Administrator Tony Hernandez announced today that the agency's home loan-guarantee program reached a record high in Tennessee as private lenders used the program to help 6,913 families and individuals buy a home in rural areas of the State during fiscal year 2013. The total private/public investment topped $846 million in rural Tennessee communities.

Barbourville, Ky., - March 28, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA Rural Housing Service Administrator Tony Hernandez and Kentucky Rural Development State Director Thomas Fern joined Congressman Hal Rogers today to announce $23 million in USDA funding for the Knox County Hospital District

Albuquerque, N.M. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O’Brien joined New Mexico State Director Terry Brunner earlier today to honor Deming’s newest homeowners during an open house gathering

WASHINGTON, - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a series of sweeping changes to a popular loan program for rural homebuyers. The changes are part of an extensive overhaul that will strengthen rural housing markets, increase the availability of rural home loans and spur the construction of new homes in rural areas

WASHINGTON, DC - November 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that recipients in 45 states, the Western Pacific and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will receive grants to make housing repairs and improve housing conditions for limited income rural residents. Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O'Brien announced the selections on Secretary Vilsack's behalf.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Changes to the map of eligible areas for RD home loan programs based on 2010 Census data were scheduled to take effect Oct. 1. However, passage of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, has postponed the implementation date to Jan, 15 2014

Agency Village, S.D. - September 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Patrice Kunesh today joined community members for the grand opening of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Administration building, funded with a $31.2 million Rural Development Community Facilities loan. The new facility will serve more than 7,000 members of the Wahpeton Oyate Indian Tribe

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Barring Congressional action, implementation of the 2010 Census Data is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, 2013. This data will modify some of the eligible areas for USDA Rural development housing programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA is accepting comments on a proposed rule to increase awareness about USDA’s Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program, which provides homeownership opportunities to low- and very-low-income rural residents. Under the proposed rule, Agencycertified loan application packagers would provide applicants with support to ensure their applications are complete and accurate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its inaugural LEED in Motion report, a holistic statistical snapshot of the green building movement aimed at equipping its members with the insight to make a strong case for sustainable building activity

Ottumwa, IA - August 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the Market to Main building project in Ottumwa. The building will allow for an indoor farmers’ market to operate year round in a new 12,000-square-foot facility, providing a consistent outlet for local producers and eliminating the community’s food desert status

AMES, IA - July 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept 1.7 million acres offered under the 45th Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. The Department received nearly 28,000 offers on more than 1.9 million acres of land, demonstrating CRP’s continuing appeal as one of our nation’s most successful voluntary programs for soil, water, and wildlife conservation. Under Vilsack’s leadership, USDA has enrolled nearly 12 million acres in new CRP contracts since 2009. Currently, there are more than 26.9 million acres enrolled on 700,000 contracts