THE $85 MILLION COMMITMENT

TO RURAL NEBRASKA

JIM BARR, NEBRASKA STATE DIRECTOR

NEBRASKA

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT

HOME PAGE:

www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne

USDA Rural Development is an EqualOpportunity Lender, Provider and Employer.Complaints of discrimination should be sent toUSDA, Director, OCR, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410.

2003 NEBRASKAANNUAL REPORT

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Jim Barr, State Director

USDA Rural Development

Rm. 152 Federal Building

100 Centennial Mall North

Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-3888
URAL RENTAL HOUSING LOANS provide financing to

licants and entities for construction of economically designed and

rural rental housing and for repairs/rehab to existing rural rental

212K equity loans and $20K grant assisted in transfer of

of 3 rural rental housing complexes for continuation of 24 units.

ded repairs to 8 units of existing rural rental housing.

EED RURAL RENTAL HOUSING LOANS are made by

nders to eligible applicants to construct new or rehabilitate

al rental apartment-housing units with USDA guaranteeing the

M in guarantees provided 72 units of new rural rental housing

sidents.

SSISTANCE provides rent subsidies to individual residents of

ed multi-family housing complexes to ensure that very low

ome residents have affordable rent payments. *$5.9M assisted

ts.

ND ENVIRONMENTAL LOANS AND GRANTS develop and

ing water and sanitary sewer systems, including solid waste

d storm drainage in rural areas. *$6.4M in loans and $4.1M in

ided for 16 water projects and 4 sewer projects.

OPMENT PLANNING GRANTS assist in paying costs

with developing applications for proposed water or wastewater

4K assisted in developing 1 water and 2 wastewater

s.

 LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE GRANTS allow for

equipment and facilities that provide rural schools, libraries,

d medical clinics with distance learning and/or telemedicine

*$153K provided for 1 distance learning project.

MUNICATIONS GUARANTEED LOANS AND

UCTURE meet the needs and demands for rural telephone area

d provide a source of long-term financing to build rural

nications infrastructure. Guaranteed loans back funds provided

ial lenders. *$2M guarantee brought new and improved

subscribers.

ND LOANS finance broadband and other advanced services.

ines constructed since 1995 with USDA financing are capable of

roadband service using digital subscriber loop (DSL) technology.

n provided new and improved services to subscribers.

ITY CONNECT BROADBAND GRANTS provide broadband

n service to rural schools, libraries, education centers, health care

aw enforcement agencies, public safety organizations, residents

ses. Rural, economically-challenged communities are targeted.

vered broadband service capability to 4,300 rural residents.

RADIO TRANSMITTER GRANTS finance the installation of

itters to extend the coverage of the National Oceanic and

c Administration’s Weather Radio system into rural areas.

ded for transmitters in rural Nebraska.

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION LOANS provide leadership andcapital to upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural electricinfrastructure. *$4M provided to 1 electric association to serve 160new consumers, construct 15 miles of distribution line, and makesystem improvements.RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS provide foreconomic development planning, technical assistance and training in rural areas. *$115K provided for 2 marketing studies and 1economic development technical assistance program.RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS facilitate and financedevelopment of small and emerging private business enterprises inrural areas. *$553K assisted 11 projects for training, technicalassistance, a business incubator, microenterprise project, businesscenter, computer technology, identifying markets and productopportunities and a feasibility study.RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS are available toelectric and telephone utilities financed by the Rural UtilitiesService (RUS), to promote sustainable rural economic developmentand job creation projects. *$200K expanded and renovated ahealth care clinic.INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM is utilized to financebusiness facilities and community development projects. *750Kprovided for working capital, inventory, equipment, franchisefees, fixed assets, business expansion or startup to an 11 countyarea.BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY GUARANTEED LOANS guaranteecommercial loans for business and industrial development to createand maintain employment, expand, and to improve economicclimate. *$3M assisted 5 businesses through existing businessacquisitions, business expansion and the securing of morefavorable rates and terms.RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS establishand operate centers for rural technology or cooperativedevelopment to assist with cooperative start-up, expansion, andoperations. *$329K to Nebraska Cooperative Development Centerfor services to strengthen cooperative development.VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT MARKETDEVELOPMENT GRANTS help producers expand customer basefor their products/commodities resulting in a greater portion ofrevenues from value-added activity being available to the producer.*$1.6M assisted 12 producer groups in agricultural ventures.RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANTSare provided to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses topurchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiencyimprovements. *$178K provided for 3 renewable energy and

3 energy efficiency projects.