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USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT

ANNUAL REPORT

FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE

FISCAL YEAR 2001

$55,479,557 INVESTED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Message From The State Director

Each year presents new challenges to rural citizens and communities. And, each year USDA Rural Development

maximizes its resources with those from government and non-profit agencies, and the private sector, to create and

implement solutions benefiting those in need.

In fiscal year 2001, Rural Development placed more funds into New Hampshire's backyard than ever before. Over

$55 million in grants, loans and guarantees helped purchase homes, repair roofs, provide subsidy for rental housing,

provided funding for a day care center, a mental health facility, a public transportation facility, a town office and

improve a mobile home park water system. Through our business programs, Rural Development funds also worked

to retain and create 517 jobs. Our field staff, who spent countless hours facilitating strategic plans and providing

resource information, helped communities and non-profits chart new and prosperous directions.

Partnerships are key to our success, and this year we established the first USDA Rural Development New

Hampshire Partner of the Year award. We were proud to honor Tri-County Community Action Program, a non-profit

organization which touches so many lives in Coos, Carroll, and Grafton counties. Tri-County CAP was recognized

for their outstanding leadership in coordinating and leveraging resources to provide services for the residents of the

North Country of New Hampshire.

I am pleased to present this annual report which offers a snapshot of our work, performed by staff who are committed

to making a difference in New Hampshire's quality of life. It is part of our effort to share information about the diverse

financial resources and technical assistance Rural Development has to offer.

Whether installing a heating system into a home a mile down a dirt road or bringing clean water to a tiny community,

it is Rural Development's goal to reach as far and wide as possible. We look forward to another bountiful year in

2002, and the opportunity to continue to invest in the healthy and productive future of rural New Hampshire.

Sincerely,

JOLINDA H. LACLAIR

State Director

HOUSING PROGRAMS: $25,616,374

Home Ownership: Rural Development provides a range of affordable housing options for rural residents with low and

moderate incomes. For new homeowners, we made 101 direct, subsidized loans for a total of $7,184,495. In our

Loan Guarantee program, we guaranteed bank and commercial lender loans to 155 families for a total of

$11,086,460. This program provides the lowest cost mortgage insurance on the market for 100%, no-downpayment financing.

Of the 256 households we helped into home ownership this year, 11 came about through the partnerships we enjoy

with AHEAD in the North Country, the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, the Laconia Area Land Trust,

Southwest Community Services in Cheshire and Sullivan Counties, and Tri-County Community Action Program in

North Country.

Home Repairs: For very low-income homeowners who need essential repairs, access modifications, or

weatherization, we offer 1% loans up to $20,000, and can make grants to elderly households based on need and

availability. This past year we helped 62 households and provided $294,875 in loans and grants to people in need
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of critical home repairs such as furnace and roof replacements.

Multi-Family Housing: We provided $1,655,000 in rehabilitation loans for two multi-family facilities consisting of 37

units. $5,395,544 was provided in Rental Assistance to 1,774 renters across NH. A $50,000 Housing Preservation

Grant (HPG) was awarded to Southwestern Community Service in Keene, NH to rehab 20 single family homes in

the Cheshire County.

COMMUNITYPROGRAMS: $14,280,183

Rural Development provides funds for essential community facilities, technology enhancement for medicine and

education, and infrastructure improvements such as safe drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste management

facilities.

Community Facility Loans, Grants and Loan Guarantees: In Fiscal Year 2001, Community Facilities direct and

guaranteed loans and grants provided $1,677,233 for 17 projects including child and adult day care facilities, health

services, and emergency services. Active guaranteed lenders include Meredith Village Savings Bank, Citizen's

Bank, Providian Bank and Community Guarantee Bank.

Water and Wastewater: Seven communities received $12,504,250 in Water and Waste Disposal loans and grants

to improve their drinking water and sewer systems. North Country Council received a $98,700 Solid Waste Grant to

provide technical assistance and education related to waste reduction and recycling.

BUSINESS PROGRAMS: $15,583,000

Guaranteed Loans: The Business and Industry Guarantee program helps local lenders finance quality rural

businesses that will provide lasting community benefits. This year, RD guaranteed $15,350,000 in loans for seven

rural small businesses: Four Seasons Fitness Center, Difeo Oil, Stinson Forest Products, Rymes Oil, Catamount

Fuel Pellets, Pelham Plastics, and the New England Flower Farm. We extend our appreciation to our participating

partners in the year 2001: First Pioneer Farm Credit, First International Bank, First Vermont Bank, Woodsville

Savings Bank and Meredith Village Savings Bank.

Grant Activities: Rural Development awarded three Rural Business Enterprise Grants, a total of $183,000 to:

Seacoast Business Alliance to capitalize their revolving loan fund, Coos County Economic Development

Corporation to provide technical assistance and training in bookkeeping and accounting to small area businesses,

and to Women's Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN) to provide technical assistance to women owned small rural

businesses.

In addition, the Community and Business Outreach Specialists have provided technical assistance to 418

businesses, which resulted in 48 business startups, 106 jobs created or retained and $1,605,000 in financing.

REACHING OUT

We take great pride in the investment that our agency makes in New Hampshire communities.

The partnerships formed by our Homeownership Outreach Specialists with lenders, realtors and non-profits have

enabled RD to reach out to all communities in New Hampshire, providing loans, grants, and technical assistance

including Saturday homebuyer education seminars in conjunction with NH Housing Finance Agency.

During 2001, our Community and Business Outreach Specialists

* Assisted Kidworks in Meredith, NH, first with developing cash flow statements and projections and then with the

actual loan and grant application process that led to the purchase of their own building;

* Chaired the Lisbon, NH Economic Development Committee, developing ideas such as the Lisbon Artisan Festival

and the Lisbon Historic Walking Tour;
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* Facilitated strategic planning meetings of the Wyman Way Cooperative in Keene, NH, focusing on the

reorganization of mission and goals; and

* Assisted the Economic Corporation of Newport with fundraising ideas for the renovations of the Eagle Block

building.

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT

CONCORD CENTER

SUITE 218, BOX 317

10 FERRYSTREET

CONCORD, NH 03301-5004

(603) 223-6035 (603) 223-6083 -tty

For more information about our programs, please visit the office nearest to you.

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nh

Berlin 603-752-1328 Bethlehem 603-444-4874

Conway 603-447-3318 Epping 603-679-4650

Walpole 603-756-3230 Woodsville 603-747-2777