Rural

Development

Rural

Development

United States Department of Agriculture

Louisiana

2002

Annual

Report

Improving the Quality of Life for Rural America
Rural

Development 

is committed to helping improve the

economy and quality of life in all of rural

America. Through our programs, we touch

rural America in many ways.

Our financial programs support such

essential public facilities and services as

water and sewer systems, housing, health

clinics, emergency service facilities and

electric and telephone service. We promote

economic development by supporting loans

to businesses through banks and

community-managed lending pools. We

offer technical assistance and information to

help agricultural and other cooperatives get

started and improve the effectiveness of

their member services–and we provide

technical assistance to help communities

undertake community empowerment

programs.

Rural

Development

Public Facilities

Public Services

Water Systems

Sewer Systems

Housing

Emergency Service Facilities

Electric Service

Telephone Service

Loans

Technical Assistance

Community Empowerment

and 

MORE!

Table of Contents

From the State Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

National Viewpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Throughout the Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Program Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Rural Utilities Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Water and Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Community Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Rural Housing Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Multi-Family Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Single Family Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Rural Business-Cooperative Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Program Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Program Purpose Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Office Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Rural Development’s Investment in Louisiana . . . . . . . . .16
About this

report

USDA Rural Development in Louisiana

provides programs and services to

promote new opportunities and greater

economic growth for Louisiana’s rural

communities. This annual report

provides information on Fiscal Year

2002 Rural Development activities. 

From the State

Director

Dear Readers,

It is my pleasure to share Rural Development's 2002 Annual Report

for Louisiana.

Through Rural Utilities Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural

Business-Cooperative Service programs and initiatives, Rural

Development invested nearly $228 million in Louisiana's rural

communities during Fiscal Year 2002. This investment has resulted

in improved water and sewage services, new and improved

community facilities, affordable rental housing for senior citizens and

low-income families, homeownership for families, new jobs, new

industries, and sustainable communities.

In Louisiana—as well as across the nation—partnerships are key to

building and sustaining economic development. Communities, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, lending institutions,

and many, many individuals worked with Rural Development during

Fiscal Year 2002 to promote Rural Development funding

opportunities. As a result, over $43 million was invested in rural

business opportunities, almost $80 million was invested in rural

utilities and community facilities projects, and over $105 million was

invested in rural housing.

Rural Development and our partners are working together to build a

stronger, more economically diversified Louisiana, and as a result,

rural citizens are enjoying new and improved utilities, new homes,

and better jobs.

I am proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to

meeting the challenges of the future.

MICHAEL B. TAYLOR

State Director

USDA Rural Development

Louisiana

USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report 1
From Washington

Helping the people of rural

America develop sustainable

communities and improve

their quality of life is the goal

of USDA's Rural Development

mission area. We believe rural

Americans have a right to the

same quality of life as is

enjoyed by people who live in

suburban and urban areas.

In implementing President Bush’s vision for

job creation and economic development,

USDA’s rural development programs have

helped create or save more than 160,000 jobs

in rural America during the past two years.

Major investments have been made in

developing value-added industries, with a

focus on promoting renewable energy. Rural

infrastructure, such as education, healthcare,

telecommunications, water treatment and

community facilities, has been supported by

more than $12 billion in grants and loans.

More than $8 billion has been invested in rural

housing, much of which supports the

President’s ambitious goal to increase minority

homeownership by 5.5 million by 2010. 

Ann M. Veneman

Secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

United States Department of Agriculture

Jobs

Economic

Development

Value-Added

Industries

Education

Healthcare

Telecommunications

Water Treatment

Community Facilities

2 USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report
Rural Development has over 30 programs dedicated to

facilitating local efforts—from financing housing and

business ventures to developing community

infrastructure essentials such as water, wastewater,

telephone, electric and broadband. We also support local

efforts to construct hospitals, fire stations, libraries, and

the list goes on. 

In addition we are becoming very involved in valueadded agriculture and entrepreneurial business

opportunity development in rural America.

. . . USDA Rural Development's mission is to make

available to communities the tools that can accomplish

our two primary goals . . . to increase economic

opportunity throughout rural America; and to improve

the quality of life for all rural Americans.

Thomas C. Dorr, Under Secretary for Rural Development

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Agricultural Outlook Forum 2003

February 20, 2003

Arlington, Virginia

Rural Development

Entrepreneurial

Business

Opportunities

Libraries

Fire Stations

Wastewater

Treatment

Telephones

Electricity

Broadband Access

USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report 3
4 USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report

A long

history of

helping

those in

need.

USDA Rural

Development

Resettlement

Administration

Farm Security

Administration

Farmers Home

Administration (FmHA)

Rural Economic and

Community Development

Rural Development

Rural America is full of promise, and

USDA Rural Development is

helping fulfill the promise and

overcome the problems of the

nation’s rural heartland. 

Rural Development was created in

1994 when rural economic and

community development programs

that had been administered among

various USDA agencies were forged

into a new mission area. With this

action, the Farmers Home

Administration, Rural Development

Administration, Rural Electrification

Administration and Agricultural

Cooperative Service passed into

history, but their tradition of service

to America is being carried on by

USDA Rural Development.

Each year, USDA Rural Development programs nationwide create or

preserve tens of thousands of rural jobs and create or improve more

than 65,000 units of quality rural housing. To multiply the impact of its

programs, USDA Rural Development is working with State, local and

Indian tribal governments, as well as private and nonprofit

organizations and user-owned cooperatives.

USDA Rural Development

programs are administered

through the: 

• Rural Utilities Service (RUS),

• Rural Business-Cooperative

Service (RBS), and the 

• Rural Housing Service (RHS).

Programs and services are

provided through USDA Rural

Development’s network of state

and local offices. 

From USDA Historical Photographic Collection, 

Photographer: Theodor Jung

From USDA Historical Photographic Collection, 

Photographer: G.W. Ackerman

Throughout the Years
USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report 5

Serving People

Rural Utilities Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service

(RBS) helps rural communities by working in

partnership with the private sector and community-based

organizations to provide financial assistance and business

planning technical assistance. Rural Business-Cooperative

Service Business Programs (BP) help fund projects that

create or preserve quality jobs and/or promote a clean rural

environment. The financial resources of RBS BP are often

leveraged with those of other public and private credit

source lenders to meet business and credit needs in underserved areas. Recipients of these programs may include

individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives,

public bodies, nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes, and

private companies.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) helps

rural communities and individuals by providing loans and

grants for housing and community facilities. RHS provides

funding for single family homes, apartments for lowincome families—including the elderly, housing for farm

laborers, childcare centers, fire and police stations,

hospitals, libraries, nursing homes, schools, and much

more. Working in partnership with non-profits, Indian

tribes, state and federal government agencies, and local

communities, RHS creates packages of technical assistance

and loan and grant funds to assist rural communities and

individuals. 

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) helps

rural communities by working with rural cooperatives,

nonprofit associations, public bodies, and for-profit utilities

to expand and keep their technology up-to-date. RUS also

helps establish new and vital services such as distance

learning and telemedicine. The public-private partnership

which is forged between RUS and these industries results in

billions of dollars in rural infrastructure development and

creates thousands of jobs for the American economy. 
Rural Utilities Service

Success

Because of Rural Utilities

Service Programs, rural

communities: 

• Constructed a new oxidation

ditch system with turbine aerators

and separated clarifiers

To serve 1,704 rural users

• Constructed a central sewage

collection system and treatment

facility

To serve 590 rural users

• Rehabilitated a town’s existing

water system---replacing all water

lines and water meters

To serve 562 rural users

• Constructed two elevated

storage tanks and seven miles of

water transmission lines

To serve 1,562 rural users

• Installed new pumps, filter unit,

and controls to upgrade and

increase capacity of water

system

To serve 1,801 rural users

• Expanded and upgraded a sewer

treatment facility

To serve 116 residential and 49

commercial rural users

• Upgraded all lines under two

inches in diameter and installed

service pump and pressure tank

To serve 315 rural users

• Constructed a new 100,000-

gallon bolted, galvanized steel

ground storage tank at existing

pumping station

To serve 175 rural users

and MORE! 

Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) provide loans, grants and

loan guarantees for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste and

storm drainage facilities in rural areas and cities and towns of 10,000

or less. Public bodies, non-profit organizations, and recognized

Indian tribes may qualify for assistance. WEP also makes grants to

nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training to

assist rural communities with their water, wastewater, and solid waste

problems. 

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) helps rural Louisiana

utilities expand and keep their technology up-to-date. 

During Fiscal Year 2002, the RUS 

Water and Waste Program funded 

45 projects totaling $70,864,878.

Water and Waste

6 USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report
Success

Because of the Community

Facilities Program, rural

communities:

• Purchased new police cars

• Constructed a new police

station

• Resurfaced hospital parking lot

• Repaired a village drainage

pump to ensure flood

protection

• Constructed a new fire

substation

• Constructed a new community

center which includes meeting

rooms, a gymnasium, and a lap

pool

• Purchased a Thermal Imaging

Device and monitor to enhance

the safety for firemen during

hazardous structural fires

• Repaired the town hall for

compliance with accessibility

standards for people with

disabilities

• Constructed a new ambulance

entrance and increased size of

emergency room

• Purchased a new, larger

capacity paramedic vehicle

• Purchased a new fire engine

• Purchased 911 communication

equipment

and MORE!

Rural Utilities Service

In Louisiana, the Rural Utilities Service administers the

Community Facilities Program. This program is designed to

develop essential community facilities for public use in rural

areas.

During Fiscal Year 2002, the Community Facilities

Program funded 38 projects totaling $8,988,539.

Community Facilities

USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report 7
Success Multi-Family Housing

Rural Housing Service

Because of Multi-Family

Housing Programs, 

Rural Development:

• Assisted 682 family and

elderly households

• Rehabilitated 22 Section

515 properties utilizing

$2,122,325 in direct

Section 515 loan funds

and $8,884,219 in

leveraging funds.

• Utilized $200,537 to assist

in repairs of 30 single

family dwellings

• Provided over $21 million

in “deep subsidy” rental

assistance to 1,271

Section 515 households

Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Loans are direct, competitive

mortgage loans made to provide affordable multi-family rental

housing for very low-, low-, and moderate-income families, the

elderly, and persons with disabilities. This is primarily a direct

mortgage program, but its funds may also be used to buy and

improve land on which housing is to be located and to provide

necessary facilities such as water and waste disposal systems. 

Rental assistance may be used

in both existing and newly

constructed Rural Housing

Service Rural Rental Housing

(Section 515) or Farm Labor

Housing (Section 514) financed

projects. Projects must be

established on a nonprofit or

limited profit basis. Persons

with very low and low incomes,

the elderly, and persons with

disabilities are eligible for rental

assistance if they are unable to

pay the basic monthly rent

within 30 percent of adjusted

monthly income. Very low

income is defined as below 50

percent of the area median

income (AMI); low income is

between 50 and 80 percent of

AMI; moderate income is

established by adding $5,500

to the low-income limit. 

During Fiscal Year 2002,

the Multi-Family Housing Program 

invested over $23 million in rural 

multi-family housing in Louisiana.

8 USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report
Success Single Family Housing

Rural Housing Service

Because of Single Family

Housing Programs, Rural

Development:

• Provided loan funds to

1,026 rural families

enabling them to become

homeowners

• Provided funding to 241

rural families to make

repairs to their homes

• Invested $81.5 million in

single family housing

projects in Louisiana

• Awarded two Self-Help

Housing Pre-Development

Grants to two

organizations to establish

Self-Help Housing

Programs in their areas

The Self-Help Technical

Assistance Grant provides

financial assistance to non-profit

organizations who will provide

technical assistance to low- and

very low-income households to

build their own homes in a rural

area. Funds may be used to

pay salaries, rent, and office

expenses of the non-profit

organization.

During Fiscal Year 2002, the Single Family

Housing Program invested $81.5 million in

financing for homes and home repairs for people

in rural Louisiana:

Section 502 Direct Loans: 360 Loans, $23,438,656

Section 504 Direct Loans: 118 Loans, $932,211

Section 504 Grants: 123 Grants, $739,211

Section 502 Guaranteed Loans: 666 Loans, $56,407,689

The Rural Housing Service provides a number of homeownership

opportunities to rural Americans, as well as programs for home renovation

and repair. The Single-Family Housing Program provides homeownership

opportunities to low and moderate-income rural Americans through

several loan, grant, and loan guarantee programs. The program also makes

funding available to individuals to finance vital improvements necessary to

make their homes decent, safe, and sanitary.

USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report 9
Success

Because of Rural BusinessCooperative Service

Programs, rural businesses:

• Purchased equipment and

enlarged a drydock vessel

Created 40 jobs and saved 60

jobs

• Financed the start-up of an

ammunition assembly plant

Created 23 jobs

• Refinanced an assisted living

facility and constructed a sixunit dementia unit

Created 6 jobs and saved 8

jobs

• Established a business

development program to assist

businesses with management

and financial planning,

marketing assistance, training

programs, counseling, business

planning, seminars, accounting

and tax assistance, and

networking contacts

• Installed water, gas, and

sanitary sewer lines in a fiveacre industrial and business

park designed to attract small

and emerging private business

• Capitalized a revolving loan

fund

• Funded a new recycling

company which acquires baled,

old corrugated cardboard and

recycles it into other products

Created 40 jobs

and MORE!

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

The Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan

Program helps create jobs and stimulates rural economies by

providing financial backing for rural businesses. 

The Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) Program

enables public bodies, private nonprofit corporations, and federallyrecognized Indian tribal groups to finance and facilitate development

of small and emerging private business enterprises located in areas

outside the boundary of a city or unincorporated areas of 50,000 or

more and its immediately adjacent urbanized area. The public bodies,

private nonprofit corporations and federally recognized Indian tribes

receive the grant to assist a business. 

The Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG) Program

promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities

with exceptional needs. This is accomplished by making grants to pay

costs of providing economic planning for rural communities, technical

assistance for rural businesses, or training for rural entrepreneurs or

economic development officials. 

The Rural Economic Development Loan (REDL) Program

promotes sustainable rural economic development and job creation

projects by providing zero-interest loans to electric and telephone

utilities financed by the Rural Utilities Service. 

During Fiscal Year 2002, the

Rural Business-Cooperative Service invested

over $43 million in rural Louisiana.

Funding Opportunities

10 USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report
Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Business and Industry 

Guaranteed Loans $41,266,000

Intermediary Relending Program 

(IRP) $621,826

Rural Business Enterprise Grant 

(RBEG) $887,080

Rural Business Opportunity 

Grant (RBOG) $99,790

Rural Economic Development 

Loan $450,000

Total Investment $43,324,696

Jobs Created

Jobs Saved

Dollars Leveraged

Businesses Created

Communities

Enhanced

Rural Business-Cooperative

Service

Fiscal Year 2002 

Funding Report

USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report 11
Rural Development Opportunities

Rural Housing Service

Section 502 Direct Loans and

Guaranteed Loans are available to

individuals or families for purchase of

homes at affordable interest rates. 

Section 504 Loans/Grants are

available for very low-income families

who own homes in need of repair. The

Home Repair Loan and Grant Program

offers loans and grants for renovation.

This program also provides funds to

make a home accessible to someone

with disabilities. 

Community Programs Direct

Loans/Grants and Guaranteed Loans

are available to develop essential

community facilities in rural areas and

towns of up to 20,000 in population.

Loans and guarantees are available to

public entities such as municipalities,

counties, and special-purpose districts,

as well as to non-profit corporations and

tribal governments. 

Rural Rental Housing Guaranteed

Loans and Direct Loans can be made

to individuals, trusts, associations,

partnerships, limited partnerships, state

or local public agencies, consumer

cooperatives, and profit or nonprofit

corporations. Rural Rental Housing

Loans are direct, competitive mortgage

loans made to provide affordable multifamily rental housing for very low-, low-,

and moderate-income families; the

elderly; and persons with disabilities. 

The Farm Labor Housing Loan/Grant

Program provides capital financing for

the development of housing for

domestic farm laborers. Loans are

made to farmers, associations of

farmers, family farm corporations, Indian

tribes, nonprofit organizations, public

agencies, and associations of

farmworkers. 

The Housing Preservation Grant

Program provides grants to sponsoring

organizations for the repair or

rehabilitation of low- and very lowincome housing. The grants are

competitive and are made available in

areas where there is a concentration of

need. Those assisted must own very

low- or low-income housing, either as

homeowners, landlords, or members of

a cooperative. 

Rural Business-Cooperative

Service

The Business and Industry

Guaranteed Loan Program helps

create jobs and stimulate rural

economies by providing financial

backing for rural businesses. Loan

proceeds may be used for working

capital, machinery and equipment,

buildings and real estate, and certain

types of debt refinancing. The primary

purpose is to create and maintain

employment and improve the economic

climate in rural communities. 

Rural Business Enterprise Grants

(RBEG) are available to public bodies,

private nonprofit corporations, and

federally-recognized Indian tribal groups

to finance and facilitate development of

small and emerging private business

enterprises located in areas outside the

boundary of a city or unincorporated

areas of 50,000 or more and its

immediately adjacent urbanized area. 

The Intermediary Relending Program

(IRP) is available to finance business

facilities and community development

projects in rural areas. This is achieved

through loans made by the Rural

Business-Cooperative Service to

intermediaries. Intermediaries re-lend

funds to ultimate recipients for business

facilities or community development.

Intermediaries establish revolving loan

funds so collections from loans made to

ultimate recipients in excess of

necessary operating expenses and debt

payments will be used for more loans to

ultimate recipients.

Rural Business Opportunity Grants

(RBOG) promote sustainable economic

development in rural communities with

exceptional needs. This is accomplished

by making grants to pay costs of

providing economic planning for rural

communities, technical assistance for

rural businesses, or training for rural

entrepreneurs or economic development

officials. 

Rural Economic Development Loans

and Grants are available to provide

zero-interest loans and grant funds to

electric and telephone utilities financed

by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to

promote sustainable rural economic

development and job creation projects.

Rural Utilities Service

Water and Sewer Loans/Grants and

Guaranteed Loans are available to

develop water and waste disposal

(including solid waste disposal and

storm drainage) systems in rural areas

and towns with a population not in

excess of 10,000. The funds are

available to public entities such as

municipalities, counties, special-purpose

districts, Indian tribes, and corporations

not operated for profit. Grants are

available to reduce water and waste

disposal costs to a reasonable level for

rural users. 

Solid Waste Management Grants 

are available to public and private

nonprofit organizations for providing

technical assistance and training to

associations to reduce or eliminate

pollution of water resources and

improve planning and management of

solid waste facilities. This assistance is

available in rural areas and towns with a

population not in excess of 10,000. 

Distance Learning and

Telecommunications Loans/Grants

are specifically designed to improve

educational and health care needs of

rural America through the use of

advanced telecommunications

technologies. 

For more information on

these programs and

other initiatives of USDA

Rural Development, visit

our webpage at:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

12 USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report
Water and Sewer Business and Industry Technical Assistance Loans

Housing Preservation Grants Rental Housing Jobs

Land and 

Building

Machinery 

and 

Equipment

Working 

Capital

InfraStructure

Training 

and/or 

Technical 

Assistance

Section 502 - Direct Loan 

Section 502 - Guaranteed Loan 

Section 504 - Loan/Grant 

Community Facilities - Direct Loan/Grant 

Community Facilities - Guaranteed Loan 

Rural Rental Housing - Guaranteed Loan  

Rural Rental Housing - Direct Loan  

Farm Labor Housing - Loan/Grant  

Housing Preservation Grant    

Business and Industry - Guaranteed Loan   

Rural Business Enterprise Grant    

Intermediary Relending Loan   

Rural Business Opportunity Grant 

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant    

Water and Sewer - Loan/Grant   

Water and Sewer - Guaranteed Loan   

Solid Waste Management Grant 

Distance Learning and Telecommunications Loan/Grant  

Technical Assistance and Training Grant 

Rural Housing Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Utilities Service

Summary of Program Purposes

To find out more about these programs, visit our web page at:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

Rural Development

works with

individuals,

corporations,

partnerships,

cooperatives, public

bodies, nonprofit

corporations, Indian

tribes, and private

companies to help

improve the economy

and quality of life in

rural Louisiana.

Electricity Telephone Service New Homes Community Facilities Education 

USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report 13

Land Building Machinery Equipment Grants
Our Offices

Monroe Area Office - Area I

2410 Old Sterlington Road, Suite C

Monroe, Louisiana 71203

Telephone: (318) 343-4467

Parishes Served:

Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, East

Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln,

Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas,

Union, and West Carroll

Natchitoches Area Office - Area II

6949 Louisiana Highway 1 Bypass, Suite 103

Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457

Telephone: (318) 352-7100

Parishes Served:

Avoyelles, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto,

Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine,

Vernon, Webster, and Winn

Lafayette Area Office - Area III

Whitney National Bank Building

905 Jefferson Street, Suite 320

Lafayette, Louisiana 70501-7913

Telephone: (337) 262-6601

Parishes Served:

Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron,

Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, 

St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion

Amite Area Office - Area IV

805 West Oak Street, Room 3

Amite, Louisiana 70422

Telephone: (985) 748-8751

Parishes Served:

Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East

Feliciana, Jefferson, Iberville, Lafourche,

Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee,

St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, 

St. John, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne,

Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West

Feliciana

Area II

Natchitoches Area Office

Area I

Monroe Area Office

Area III

Lafayette Area Office

Area IV

Amite Area Office

Rural Development

works throughout

Louisiana to

improve the

economy and

quality of life for

rural residents.

14 USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report
Administration

The State Office, located in Alexandria, oversees the daily

administrative operations of USDA Rural Development in

Louisiana. Daily operations include budget, equipment

management, procurement, information technology, human

resource, and management support to Rural Development

employees in Louisiana.

Michael B. Taylor

State Director

Karen G. Nardini

Administrative Programs Director

Debra B. Redfearn

Single Family Housing Program

Director

Yvonne R. Emerson

Multi-Family Housing Program

Director

John H. Broussard

Rural Business-Cooperative

Service Program Director

Danny H. Magee, Sr.

Rural Utilities Service Program

Director

Cathy D. Beales

State Civil Rights Manager

Holly L. Martien

Public Affairs Specialist

USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report 15

USDA Rural Development

State Office

3727 Government Street

Alexandria, Louisiana 71302

There are four Area Offices, located throughout

the state to serve Louisiana residents:

Monroe, Area I

Natchitoches, Area II

Lafayette, Area III

Amite, Area IV
16 USDA Rural Development - Louisiana’s 2002 Annual Report

Rural Development’s Investment

During Fiscal Year 2002,

USDA Rural Development

invested over $228 million

in rural Louisiana.

In Louisiana

In Louisiana

Program Investment

Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service Programs $43,324,696

Rural Utilities Service Programs $79,853,878

Multi-Family Housing Programs $23,738,712

Single Family Housing Programs $81,574,387

Total Investment in

Rural Louisiana $228,491,673
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in

all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation,

or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all

programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means

for communication of program information (Braille, large print,

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 

(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964

(voice or TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity lender,

provider, and employer.

For more information on this report, contact:

Michael B. Taylor, State Director

USDA Rural Development

3727 Government Street

Alexandria, Louisiana 71302

Telephone: (318) 473-7921

Fax: (318) 473-7963

e-mail: michael.taylor@la.usda.gov

For more information on the programs available

through Rural Development, 

please visit our webpage at:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov
Alexandria, Louisiana 71302

3727 Government StreetUSDA Rural Development

For more information on Rural Development programs and initiatives, please visit our webpage at:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov