USDA Rural 

Development

Together, America Prospers


USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invests in 

rural communities to build and improve their 

infrastructure. From broadband to water and waste 

treatment to electric power, these services expand 

economic opportunities and improve the quality of 

life for rural residents.

USDA is awarding grants, loans, and loan/

grant combinations throughout the country for 

broadband ReConnect. More than $1 billion has 

been committed by Congress for this program. In 

addition, the Farm Bill also increased the population 

limit to 50,000 to be eligible for our traditional 

broadband program. For more information, go 

to https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/farm-bill.

2 | USDA Rural Development Overview 

Rural Utilities Service
 

 
Grow businesses 

and train rural 

Americans 

for jobs.

Our business programs provide grants and 

capital to non-profit and public economic 

development organizations to assist large 

and small businesses and individuals with 

training, education, and development of 

entrepreneurial skills to help those living in 

rural areas start and grow businesses or find 

jobs in agricultural and other rural markets. 

Investors would find long-term value in our 

loans and guaranteed loans.

USDA works with public and private partners 

to connect rural residents to valuable 

resources by:

• Supporting business growth and 

development

• Helping to bring capital to rural America

• Creating and sustaining jobs through 

recreation as well as restoring, 

conserving, and managing rural 

America’s natural resources

• Bringing fast internet into more homes 

and businesses

• Boosting energy production that benefits 

rural communities and fuels nations

These investments support America’s long-term 

prosperity by ensuring our rural communities 

and Main Streets both grow and prosper.

4 | USDA Rural Development Overview

USDA Rural Housing Service (RHS) builds and 

improves housing and essential community facilities 

in rural areas. We offer loans, grants, and loan 

guarantees for single- and multi-family housing, 

childcare centers, fire and police stations, hospitals, 

libraries, nursing homes, schools, first responder 

vehicles and equipment, housing for farm laborers, 

and more. We provide technical assistance 

loans and grants in partnership with non-profit 

organizations, Tribes, State and Federal Government 

agencies, and local communities. And, we work with 

our partners to ensure rural America continues to be 

a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Single-Family Housing

USDA’s Single-Family Housing Programs help rural 

communities build robust and sustainable economies 

with direct loans or loan guarantees to help low- and 

moderate-income residents build or buy housing in rural 

areas. By working with partners to leverage funding 

from private lenders, non-profit organizations, and State 

and local agencies, we serve more customers and use 

tax dollars more efficiently. 

Our innovative partnerships for self-help housing and 

loan application packagers promote ownership, as 

well as work with potential homeowners to navigate the 

Rural Housing Service

Strong communities help rural 

Americans become homeowners:

• Single-Family Housing Direct Home Loans 

• Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program

• Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees

• Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant

• Rural Community Development Initiative Grants

• Housing Preservation and Revitalization Demonstration Loans and Grants 

6 | USDA Rural Development Overview

8 | USDA Rural Development Overview

Initiatives

Farm Bill

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm 

Act), known as the Farm Bill, was signed into law on 

December 20, 2018. It will remain in force through 2023, 

although provisions extend beyond 2023. Spending has 

been increased from fiscal year 2019 through 2023 by 

$1.8 billion (less than 1 percent) above the level 

projected for a continuation of the previous Farm Bill.

The 2018 Farm Bill enhances USDA RD’s ability to 

support and promote rural American prosperity. Title VI 

provides assistance to rural communities for improving 

health outcomes, particularly in the areas of broadband; 

community and economic development program 

planning, coordination, and implementation; water and 

waste disposal and wastewater treatment facilities; as 

well as energy, electrification, and cybersecurity. RD 

stakeholders will also find benefit from Title X (Energy) 

and Title XII (Misc.). The 2018 Farm Bill impacts delivery 

and management of these critical programs and provides 

guidance and some funding for the agencies’ efforts.

Expanding Credit to Rural Communities

The 2018 Farm Bill expands the Rural Broadband Access 

Loan and Loan Guarantee program by combining and 

streamlining regional programs, extending the use of 

grants. It also increases the population limit eligibility 

for USDA’s water, community facilities, and broadband 

programs to 50,000. 

Increasing Broadband Tools

The 2018 Farm Bill increases the available broadband 

tools and provides a user-friendly database of loan and 

grant programs. It prioritizes broadband access to those 

who live in underserved areas, codifies the existing 

Community Connect program, and creates a 

new program emphasizing middle mile infrastructure.

Solidifying Funding for Rural Necessities 

The Farm Bill states that it will continue to allow rural 

communities to refinance broadband and telephone 

loans, as well as certain rural hospitals. It also codifies 

the Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Task Force. These 

recommendations will be carried forward for the 

unforeseeable future. 

Rural Development Innovation Center

Created in 2017, the Rural Development Innovation 

Center works to transform rural communities through 

strategic partnerships, data analytics, and regulation 

streamlining. The Innovation Center is leading a key 

initiative to improve agency efficiency in program 

delivery, customer service and program utilization 

through streamlining and consolidating four Rural 

Development loan guarantee programs into a single 

regulation. Other resources available through the 

Innovation Center include a Tribal resource guide and 

an e-Connectivity toolkit.

Broadband ReConnect 

The Broadband ReConnect program is a high-priority 

initiative that offers loans and grants to be applied to the 

construction, improvements, or acquisition of facilities 

and equipment needed to provide broadband service in 

eligible rural areas. This program will generate privatesector investment to deploy broadband infrastructure and 

provide high-speed internet e-Connectivity to as many 

rural premises as possible, including homes, community 

facilities for health care and public safety, schools, 

libraries, farms, ranches, factories, and other sites. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. September 2020

Together, America Prospers