Progress Report Progress Report Progress Report 

USDA Rural Developme

USDA Rural Developme

North Carolina North Carolina

2012
Barack Obama 

President of the United States 

Tom Vilsack 

Secretary of Agriculture 

Dallas Tons

Under Secre

 for USDA Rural De

Committed to Helping Improve the Economy Committed to Helping Improve the Economy Committed to Helping Improve the Economy 

and Quality of Life in Rural America and Quality of Life in Rural America 

USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider and employer. 

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

1400 Independence Ave S. W. Washington, D. C. 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 TDD 615-783-139
 

LOOKING BACK ON 2012 . . . .  More than $1.6 billion was invested in FY 2012 and $6.3 billion since FY 2009 in rural 

housing, rural businesses, utilities and community programs across rural North Carolina.  

During 2012, over 8000 families were assisted through the Single Family Housing Program 

and 752 jobs were created/saved through the Business & Cooperative Programs.  

These investments were made possible by the hard work and devotion of the North Carolina 

USDA Rural Development team. Looking ahead, we will continue to work for the good of the 

citizens to meet the many needs that exist across our State.  

The mission of USDA Rural Development is to increase economic opportunity and improve 

the quality of life for all rural Americans. Rural Development Utilities Programs address the 

needs of rural residents for basic services such as clean running water, sewer and waste disposatelecommunications. Housing Programs address the need for single-family, multi-family and farm l

munity Facilities Programs help rural communities build or expand vital community facilities such a

fire and police stations, libraries, schools, and day care centers. Business & Cooperative Programdevelop new job opportunities and increase access to capital, allowing businesses to remain viaeconomy.  

USDA Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities. Funding assistance is p

direct or guaranteed loans, grants, technical assistance, research and educational materials for ubusiness and renewable energy programs.  

We are proud to work in partnership with state and local governments, as well as non-profit agenc

These partnerships are vital to leveraging funding and the success of delivering our programs to c

rural jobs, enable rural Americans to buy homes and help low-income rural residents rent apartmehousing. Our programs are provided across North Carolina through seven Area Offices and thirteeLocal Offices. 
PROGRAM AMOUNT

Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loans $1,026,825,712 

Single Family Housing Direct Loans $43,125,981 

Community Facility Loans $56,896,000 Community Facility Grants $350,200 Community Facility Guaranteed Loans $28,822,000 Economic Impact Initiative Grants $162,400 Water and Waste Loans $40,091,000 Water and Waste Grants $11,560,923 Appalachian Regional Commission Grants $1,288,500 Solid Waste Management Grants $109,098 Water and Waste Guaranteed Loans $1,983,000 Business & Industry Loan Guarantees $55,251,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grants $842,000 Rural Economic Development Loan & Grants $2,650,000 Intermediary Relending Program $161,000 Value Added Producer Grants $1,386,619 Rural Energy for America Program (Loans) $8,500,000 Rural Energy for America Program (Grants) $674,883 9003 Biorefinery Program $99,000,000 Rural Cooperative Development Grants $243,341 Distance Learning Telemedicine Loan and Grants $520,014 Rural Community Development Initiative Grants $626,000 Rural Community Development Initiative - Rural Jobs Accelerator $430,000 Multi-Family Housing Direct Loan Program $15,703,296 Multi-Family Housing Guarantee Loan Program $9,027,900 Housing Preservation Grant Program $139,148 Rental Assistance $57,032,640 Tenant Vouchers $147,599 Electric Loans $160,344,000 

TOTAL OBLIGATIONS FOR FY2012 $1,623,894,254.00 

$6.3 BILLION INVESTED IN RURAL NORT

3.73% 5.38%

9.91%

65.89%

5.05%

FY 2012 INVESTMENTS 
HOUSING ....increasing housing OPPORTUNITI

Apartment living is often an alternative for people 

who cannot afford the purchase price and maintenance costs of their own individual house.  

Rural rental housing loans are made to finance 

building construction and site development of multi-family living quarters for people with low, very low and moderate incomes. Some units are reserved for people who are 62 and older.  

 

For families and individuals with very low incomes, USDA Rural Development can help subsidize mo

limiting these costs to no more than 30 percent of the adjusted monthly income of the applicant. 

 

USDA Rural Development’s Rural Housing Programs give households and individuals the opportunity 

their homes in rural areas under 20,000 in population. Eligibility for these loans, loan guarantees an

family income and varies according to the median income for each county. 

 

Home improvement loans and grants help low-income families and individuals, often elderly, remove 

hazards from their homes or add safety features that will improve their quality of life. 

Baytree Apartments 
BUSINESS .... encouraging economic GROWT

Tarheel Plast

Working with private lenders throughout the state, USDA Rural Development is 

able to increase access to capital in rural areas, helping businesses get the necessary capital to create and maintain jobs. Through the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program, USDA guarantees loans made by eligible lenders to rural businesses.  

The primary purpose of this program is to create and maintain employment and 

improve the economies of rural communities. Under the Intermediary Relending Program (IRP), loans are provided to local organizations (intermediaries) for the 

establishment of revolving loan funds. These revolving loan funds are used to assist with financing business and economic development activity to create or retain jobs in rural communities.  

Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) are used to finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses including capitalization of revolving loan funds. These revolving loans fare used for start ups, working capital 

and training and technical assistance.  

The Value-added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps producers increase farm 

income and create new jobs by supporting production practices, marketing, and processing that add value to a product. VAPG funds can go to individual producers, organizations representing agricultural producers and farming and ranching cooperatives among others.  

Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) are made for operating centers 

for cooperative development to improve the economic condition of rural areas by 

developing new cooperatives and improving operations of existing cooperatives.  

The Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant (SSDPG) Program provides 

technical assistance to small, socially-disadvantaged agricultural producers through eligible cooperatives and associations of cooperatives. 
COMMUNITY . . improving ESSENTIAL community se

Essential community infrastructure is key to ensuring that rural areas enjoy the same bas

services enjoyed by those in urban areas.  

USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Program offers grants, direct loans and 

develop or improve essential community services and facilities in rural areas. 

Public bo

organizations can use the funds to construct, expand or improve facilities in rural areas oprovide health care, education, public safety, and public services, including hospitals, clin

facilities. 

Mills River Town Hall 

Northampton Memorial Library 

Emerg

Western Piedmont Council of Government 

Graystone Day School 

Cent
UTILITIES . . water, wastewater, broadband INFRASTR

Broadband 

Princeton Water 

The USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs address t

ral residents for basic services such as clean running watewaste disposal, electricity and telecommunications.  

The Rural Broadband Loan Program provides financing for 

tion, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipmband service in rural communities. Broadband Community provide a critical link between essential community facilitiewhere no broadband service currently exists.  

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant and Loan P

improve rural access to education and medical services avareas. 

Tuckaseigee Water & Sewer Authority 

Distance Le

James Sprunt Comm
ENERGY . . . . building energy INDEPENDENC

To foster rural economic development and growth, Congress authorized the Rural Energy 

Program as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. 

This program provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small bus

renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. 

Renewable energy and energy efficiency systems provide a significant opportunity for rura

ment and growth. These opportunities include increasing local revenue, bolstering the locacreasing the economic yield of land. 

Energy efficiency improvements are a useful tool for increasing farm or business produc

costs. By investing in energy efficient equipment, agricultural producers and rural small b

savings and increased sustainability for years to come. 

Solar Farm En

Center Pivot Irrigation Grain Dryer 
Business Development and Cooperative Programs

Program Objective Uses Applicant Eligible Area 

Business andIndustry Programloan‐guarantees

Create jobs and stimulate ruraleconomies by providingfinancial backing for ruralbusinesses.

Most legal business purposes exceptproduction agriculture. Include acquisition,start‐up and expansion of business thatcreate rural jobs.

USDA Approved Lenders onbehalf of their qualified ruralbusiness borrowers.

Any area except citieswith populations over50,000 or theadjacent urbanizedarea.

IntermediaryRelending Programloans

Finance business facilities andcommunity developmentprojectsin rural areas.

Community development projects,establishment or expansion of businesses,creation orsaving of rural jobs.

Public bodies, non‐profits,recognized tribes, andcooperatives.

Rural areas andincorporated placeswith populations oflessthan 25,000.

Rural BusinessEnterprise Programgrants

Finance and facilitate thedevelopment of small andemerging private businessenterprises.

Buy and develop land; establish revolvingloan funds; construct buildings, plants,equipment, accessstreets and roads,parking, extend utilities; distance learningnetworks.

Public bodies, private non‐profits, and recognized tribes.

Any area except citieswith populations over50,000 or theadjacent urbanizedarea.

Rural BusinessOpportunityprogramgrants

Finance technical assistancefor business development andconduct economicdevelopment planning in ruralareas.

Technical assistance, leadership training,establishment of business support centers,economic development plans.

Public bodies, non‐profits,recognized tribes, andcooperatives with members thatare primarily rural residents.

Any area except citieswith populations over50,000 or theadjacent urbanizedarea.

Rural EconomicDevelopmentProgramloans & grants

Finance economicdevelopment and job creationin rural areas.

Feasibility studies, business startup orexpansion costs, businessincubators,revolving loan funds and communityfacilities.

Electric and telephone utilitieseligible for financing from theRural Utilities Service.

Any area except citieswith populations over50,000 or theadjacent urbanizedarea.

Rural CooperativeDevelopmentProgramgrants

Establish and operate centersfor cooperative developmentto improve economic conditionin rural areas. Improveoperations of existing coops.

To conduct feasibility studies, businessplans, and applied research as well asprovide training and other technicalassistance to new and existingcooperatives and businesses.

Non‐profit corporations andinstitutions of higher education.

Any area except citieswith populations over50,000 or theadjacent urbanizedarea.

Value‐AddedAgricultural ProductMarketDevelopmentProgramgrants

Assist independent agriculturalproducers to enter intoactivities that add value totheir commodities.

Planning purposeslike feasibility studies orbusiness plans; or as working capital tohelp start the operations of a venture.

Independent producers, farmerand rancher cooperatives, andmajority‐controlled producer‐based business ventures.

No populationrestriction.

Small SociallyDisadvantagedProducer Programgrants

Provide technical assistance tosmall, minority ownedproducers.

Technical assistance for market researchand product/service improvement; legalassistance; feasibility study; business/marketing plans; and training.

Coops or associations with aprimary focus on providingassistance to small, minorityproducers. Governing boardand/or membership must be atleast 75 % recognizedminorities.

Any area except citieswith populations over50,000 or theadjacent urbanizedarea.

Renewable Energyfor AmericaProgram (REAP)loans & grants

Finance the purchase ofrenewable energy systems orto make energy‐ efficiencyimprovements.

Construction, improvements,purchase/install equipment, energy audits,permit fees, professional service fees,business plans/feasibility studies.

Agricultural producers and smallbusinesses located in ruralareas.NOTE ‐ Urban agriculturalproducers may also be eligible.

Any area except citieswith populations over50,000 or theadjacent urbanizedarea.
Rural Utilities and Community Facilities Programs

Program Objective Applicant Uses Eligible Area 

Water and WasteDisposalProgramsloans & grants

Finance water and wastedisposal in rural areas to themost financially in need,resulting in reasonable userfees.

Public entities, recognized tribes,and non‐profits.

Build, repair, and improve publicwater systems, and waste collectionand treatment systems and otherrelated costs.

Rural areas, cities andtowns with apopulation up to10,000.

Intereson an iyields fRepaymyears.

Water and WasteDisposal Programsloan guarantees

Provide loan guarantees tolenders serving financiallyneedy applicants.

USDA Approved Lenders onbehalf of Public entities,recognized tribes, and non‐profits.

Construct, repair, modify, expand,and improve water supply anddistribution systems; and wastecollection and treatment systems.

Rural areas, cities andtowns with apopulation up to10,000.

Private % guarand se

Solid WasteManagement Programsgrants

Provide technical assistance andtraining to help communitiesreduce/eliminate waterpollution, and improve planningand management of solid wastesites.

Non‐profit organizations andpublic bodies.

Provide technical assistance andtraining to reduce pollution ofwater resources and improvemanagement of solid wastefacilities.

Rural areas, cities andtowns with apopulation up to10,000.

ProjectselectiApplica10/1 to 

Rural BroadbandProgramloans & loan‐guarantees

The deployment of broadbandservice to eligible ruralcommunities.

Legally organized entitiesproviding or proposing to providebroadband service in eligiblerural communities.

Construction, acquisition, andimprovement of broadbandtransmission facilities andequipment; land and buildings usedto provide such service; andrefinancing of Telecomm programdebt.

Eligible ruralcommunities with apopulation of 20,000or less.

Interesrate foexpectlife of aGuaranto 80% 

Distance Learning andTelemedicine Programloans & grants

Development and deploymentof advanced telecommunicationservices throughout ruralAmerica to improve educationand health care.

Incorporated entities includingmunicipalities that operate ruralschools/education facilities,libraries, or health care facilities.May be for‐profit or non‐profit.

Equipment for classrooms: cameras,video monitors, computers, andLAN. Also for physicianconsultation, radiology, ex‐rayscanners, and digital microscopes.

Rural areas withpopulations of 20,000or less.

Match

Electric andTelecommunicationsProgramloans & loan‐guarantees

Provide financial aid throughdirect loans and loanguarantees for electric andtelecommunica‐tions services.

For profit entities, non‐profit andcooperative associations, publicbodies, and other utilities.

Generation, bulk transmissionfacilities, and power distribution.Enhance 911 service, digitalswitching, fiber optics, traditionaltelecomm and broadband.

Electric ‐ U.S. Censusdesignated rural areas.Telecommunication

Rural areas with a

pop.

of 5,000 or less.

Interesaccord

Rural CommunityDevelopment Initiative(RCDI)Grants

Assists organizations thatprovide technical assistance toother organizations to improvetheir ability to undertakehousing, and community oreconomic develop‐mentprojects in rural areas.

Public or private organizations,including recognized tribes,which have been organized atleast 3 years and haveexperience working with eligiblerecipients.

Recipient provides technicalassistance to organizations servingrural qualified areas.

Rural area, city andtowns with populationnot exceeding 50,000including urbanizedareas.

Match

Community FacilitiesProgramloans, loan‐guarantees& grants

Provide essential communityfacilities for rural communities.

Public bodies, non‐profitorganizations, and recognizedtribes. USDA Approved Lendersmay apply for loan‐guaranteeson behalf of the above entities.

Build facilities and purchaseequipment for fire and rescue, earlywarning systems, police stations,health clinics, schools, libraries,hospitals, etc.

Rural areas, cities, andtowns withpopulations of 20,000or less.

Up to 1to 40 yGrant f
Rural Housing Programs

Program Objective Uses Applicant Eligible Area 

Single Family Homes(502 Program)loans

Safe, well‐built, affordablehomes for ruralAmericans.

Buy, build, improve, repair orrehabilitate rural home as the applicant’spermanent residence.

Families and individuals. Forlow and very low incomeapplicants.

Rural areas withpopulations of20,000 or less.

Up to 100whicheve33/38 yefor paymloan.

Single Family Homes(502 loan GuaranteeProgram)loan‐guarantees

Assist eligible applicants inbuying their homes byguaranteeing loans madeby private lenders.

Purchase new or existing home. USDA Approved Lenders on

behalf of their qualified homeloan borrowers. For low tomoderate income applicants.

Rural areas withpopulations of20,000 or less.

30 year, fnegotiateborrowervalue.

Single Family HomeRepairs (504 program)loans & grants

To help very‐low incomehomeowners removehealth and safety hazardsor to repair their homes.

Repair or replace roof, winterizing,purchase or repair of heating system,structural repair, and water and sewageconnect fees, and similar uses.

Families and individuals whocurrently own their home.Grants available only to very‐low‐income applicants 62 yearsor older who cannot afford topay 1 % loan.

Rural areas withpopulations of20,000 or less.

Loan termAssistanc$7,500. Glow‐incomwho cann

Mutual Self‐HelpHousing(523 program)grants

Assist lower incomefamilies in building theirown homes. Owner’sequity is achieved through“sweat equity” inconstruction of dwelling.

Technical assistance to qualify andsupervise small groups of families tobuild each other’s homes.

Public bodies and non‐profits. Rural areas with

populations of20,000 or less.

Grant agr

Multi‐Family RentalHousing(515 program)loans

Safe, well‐built, affordablerental housing for very‐low, and low incomeindividuals and families.

New construction and rehabilitation ofexisting multi‐family rental housing inqualified rural areas.

Individuals, limited profit andnon‐profit organizations.

Rural areas withpopulations of20,000 or less.

Up to 100for non‐pcompanieyear amoorganizatTax Credicosts.

Multi‐Family RentalHousing (538 program)loan‐guarantees

Safe, well‐built, affordablerental housing for low tomoderate incomeindividuals and families.

New construction, permanent loan orsubstantial rehabilitation of multi‐familyrental housing in qualified rural areas.

Individuals, partnerships,limited liability companies,trusts, state and local agenciesand recognized tribes.

Rural areas withpopulations of20,000 or less.

Up to 90% to for‐proloan to vaprofit entto 40 yeaguarante

Multi‐Family RentalHousing Preservation(533 HPG program)grants

Repair and rehabilitatehousing owned oroccupied by very‐low andlow‐income rural families.

Repair and rehabilitation of multi‐familyrental housing in qualified rural areas.

Public bodies and non‐profitsthat provide assistance to lowto moderate income families orindividuals.

Rural areas withpopulations of20,000 or less.

Grant agr

Farm Labor Housing(514 & 516 programs)loans & grants

Safe, well‐built affordablerental housing for farmworkers and their families.

New construction or substantialrehabilitation of rental housing for farmworkers and their families.

Individuals, public and privatenon‐profit organizations.

No populationrestriction.

Up to 102Up to 33 
NORTH CAROLINA AREA BOUNDA