An Overview of USDA Rural Development Programs
Released: 2016-02-10T00:00:00

U.S. Rural Policy: Background

When the effects of the 1929 Depression began to be felt by the rest of the nation, rural residents had been struggling for several years with low incomes and low standards of living. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration began aiding rural families in 1932. Later, the Farm Security Administration and the Work Projects Administration provided much needed assistance to rural families and farm households.

In the post-World War II era, widespread rural poverty, most notably among farmers, continued to dominate rural policy concerns. The Eisenhower Administration's Under Secretary for Agriculture, True D. Morse, began a Rural Development Program in 1955 to assist low-income farmers. Because agriculture was the major economic activity in many rural areas of the time, a focus on farms and farm households became de facto rural policy. The War on Poverty during the 1960s continued the focus on rural poverty as a central policy issue. With the continued decline in agriculture as rural America's dominant economic activity, policy attention shifted to rural revitalization. The 1980s farm financial crisis and economic dislocation in rural America brought the importance of rural structural change to the forefront of policy concerns. The further decline of farming to less than 8% of rural employment and the loss of many manufacturing jobs during the past decade have highlighted the growing gap between many rural areas and the nation's urban/suburban areas. While no overarching framework guides rural policy at the federal level, adequate housing, employment creation and business retention, human capital concerns, poverty issues, medical care, and physical infrastructure development remain key foci of federal rural policy.

The rural population has declined over the past decade. According to the U.S. Census, as of July 2012, approximately 46.2 million people (14.6% of the U.S. population) lived in rural areas, down from approximately 16% in 2000. While rural farming and mining counties have long experienced dwindling populations, more recently rural retirement and recreation areas have also seen declines as the baby-boomer generation increasingly opts for urban areas in retirement. Manufacturing now accounts for about 22% of rural private sector earnings and about 11% of all rural jobs. The service sector, as with the U.S. domestic economy as a whole, however, dominates rural job opportunities. Although over 90% of total farm household income now comes from off-farm sources, farming, and agriculture more generally, remain the major legislative focus for much of congressional debate on rural policy. Since 1973, omnibus farm bills have included a rural development title. The most recently passed is Title VI of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 ( P.L. 110-246 ). Agriculture and manufacturing issues are increasingly seen as part of global and regional restructuring issues, which have significant implications for rural areas, especially those areas where these production sectors remain dominant. How to position rural areas to better compete in a global environment is a key issue framing debates about the future of rural America.

Omnibus farm bills are the major modern legislative vehicle for addressing many rural development issues. While other legislation has significant implications for rural areas and rural residents (e.g., transportation initiatives, environmental regulation, finance and taxation, Medicare, Social Security), Congress has used periodic farm bills to address emerging rural issues as well as to reauthorize a wide range of rural programs administered by the various USDA rural development mission agencies. While the extent of overlap between federal agencies and programs targeting rural areas has been of concern to some rural policy observers, legislation enacted since 1990 reflects an effort to address rural issues more comprehensively.

Major Authorizing Legislation for USDA Rural Development Programs

USDA's rural development mission is to enhance rural communities by targeting financial and technical resources to areas of greatest need. Three agencies, established by the Agricultural Reorganization Act of 1994 ( P.L. 103-354 ), are responsible for the mission area: the Rural Housing Service (RHS), the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). An Office of Community Development provides further community development support through USDA Rural Development's state offices.

Congress has enacted many public laws bearing on rural policies and rural residents. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, to cite one significant example, was central to the provision of electrical power and telephone service throughout rural America. In 1966, Congress created the National Commission on Rural Poverty, which published its famous report, The People Left Behind , the following year. Various loan and grant programs that target improvements in rural social welfare (e.g., housing) were also authorized and administered by the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA), the agency forerunner of today's USDA Office of Rural Development. Rural policy as an identified congressional concern, however, may be dated to the 1972 Rural Development Act, an amendment to the Consolidated Farmers Home Administration Act of 1961.

In addition to periodic omnibus farm bills, new rural development legislation generally amends three major authorizing statutes: (1) the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-419); (2) the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( P.L. 101-624 ); and (3) the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. To illustrate the range of congressional legislative activity targeting rural areas, a brief description and overview of key sections of the basic statutory authorities for rural development programs are provided below.

Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.)

The act established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) during the Great Depression to create jobs and electrify rural areas by providing subsidized loans and grants to rural electric cooperatives. In 1949, telephone cooperatives also were brought under the program. Cooperatives are a common form of business organization in rural areas, structured essentially as tax-exempt entities owned by the cooperative membership. In the 1930s, only a few farms and rural households had access to electricity; by the mid-1950s, the proportion of rural homes with electricity matched suburban penetration, and by 1975, more than 99% of all farms had electricity. Likewise, by the mid-1970s, telephone penetration in rural areas had topped 90%, and it has held steady at roughly 95% of households for the past 20 years. The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is now the agency administering rural electric programs that were previously overseen by the REA. The REA was eliminated in the 1994 USDA reorganization (see below) and replaced by the RUS.

Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972 (Title V, P.L. 92-419) (Title III of the Consolidated Farmers Home Administration Act of 1961 (P.L. 87-128), 7 U.S.C. 1926 et seq.)

The legislation was originally enacted as the Consolidated Farmers Home Administration Act of 1961. In 1972, Title V was changed to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and is often referred to as the ConAct. The ConAct, as amended, currently serves as the authorizing statute for most USDA rural development lending and grant programs. Title V directed the Secretary of Agriculture to provide leadership within the executive branch and to assume responsibility for coordinating a nationwide rural development program using the services of executive branch departments and agencies, including, but not limited to, the agencies, bureaus, offices, and services of the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with rural development programs of state and local governments. The act also authorized the Community Facility Loan program, the Rural Business and Industry Loan program, and the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program.

Rural Development Policy Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-355)

This legislation affirmed USDA as the lead agency for rural development. (The 1972 act named USDA as the lead federal coordinator for rural policy.) The act also added responsibilities to the 1972 Rural Development Act. It authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to expand the department's leadership role through which multi-state, state, sub-state, and local rural development needs, plans, and recommendations can be received and assessed on a continuing basis.

Rural Economic Development Act of 1990 (Title XXIII of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-624))

Part of the omnibus 1990 farm bill. Title XXIII amended the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972 to establish in USDA the Rural Development Administration (RDA). Legislative action saw significant debate between House and Senate Appropriations Committees with the House Agriculture Committee over establishing the RDA. The newly formed RDA absorbed all non-farm FmHA functions. Important provisions included

Establishing (1) a Rural Partnerships Investment Board to provide lines of credit for rural economic development revolving funds; (2) (in the Department of the Treasury) the Rural Business Investment Fund; and (3) local revolving funds. Amended the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972 to establish a delivery system for certain rural development programs; Providing rural water and waste facilities. Amended the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize lending for water and waste projects and revised water and waste facility financing provisions. Established a rural wastewater treatment circuit rider program. Amended the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish emergency community water assistance grants and water and waste facility loans and grants to alleviate health risks; Enhancing human resources. Provided for enhanced rural community access to advanced telecommunications. Amended the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize loans for business telecommunications partnerships and establish rural emergency assistance loans; Supporting rural business. Amended the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish a technical assistance unit, defer economic development loan payments, and establish the Rural Incubator Fund to promote rural economic development.

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-66)

Title VIII authorized the first rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs). The EZ/EC program was a grant-making initiative whose objective is to revitalize low-income rural communities (and low-income urban areas) in ways that attract private sector investment. USDA administered the rural EZ/EC program, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development administers the urban EZ/EC program. In December 1994, three rural Empowerment Zones (EZ) and 30 rural Enterprise Communities (EC) were named. The Taxpayers Relief Act of 1997 added two additional rural EZs and 10 more rural ECs. A third round of competition, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001, created two additional rural EZs. Although tax incentives for EZ Communities were extended through December 31, 2013, by P.L. 112-240 , the rural EC program expired on December 2009, per P.L. 111-20 . This means that all rural ECs designations expired on December 31, 2009. Currently, USDA Rural Development is not authorized to designate any new Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities.

Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-354)

Title II authorized reorganization of the Department of Agriculture. It authorized the Secretary to establish the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Economic and Community Development to succeed the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Small Community and Rural Development. The act further organized rural development into the Rural Housing Service (community facilities, technical assistance, and outreach), Rural Business-Cooperative Service (cooperatives, business and industry loans), and the Rural Utilities Service (electric, telecommunications, water). The legislation also abolished the Rural Electrification Administration established under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 establishing the Rural Utilities Service as its successor.

Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996(P.L. 104-127)

This act is the 1996 omnibus farm bill. Title VII was the Rural Development title. Several major initiatives were established in this legislation, including the following:

Revised the rural distance learning and medical link programs into programs to finance the construction of facilities and systems to provide rural areas with telemedicine and distance learning services. Amended the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972 to increase the grant amounts authorized to be made by the Secretary for water and waste facilities. Revised the definition of "rural" and "rural area," for the purposes of eligibility for grants and loans for such facilities, to limit eligibility to those cities, towns, or unincorporated areas with populations of no more than 10,000 residents. Established mandatory funding for a Fund for Rural America for rural research, economic development, and housing. Established the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP), a consolidated program of existing grants, loans, guarantees, and other assistance to local communities and federally recognized Indian tribes.

Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171)

This is the 2002 farm bill. Title VI, in addition to providing funds for various existing rural loan and grant programs, also authorized several new rural development initiatives. Major new initiatives included provisions funded through direct (mandatory) spending. Historically, mandatory funding for rural development initiatives had not been authorized. Mandatory programs do not require annual appropriations. Spending for these programs is made available through the Commodity Credit Corporation. For FY2002-FY2007, new mandatory programs included

The Rural Strategic Investment Fund established a National Board on Rural America that would provide $100 million in planning grants to certified Regional Investment Boards. The Rural Business Investment Program provided $100 million in loan guarantees and subsidies to form Rural Business Investment corporations that would make equity investments to small firms. The program would be administered through the Small Business Administration. Enhanced Access to Broadband Service to Rural Areas provided $10 million-$20 million per year, FY2002-FY2007, in grants and loans. Rural Local Television Broadcast Signal Loan Guarantees authorized $80 million under the Launching Our Communities' Access to Local Television Act of 2000. Value-added Agricultural Product Market Development Grants provided $40 million per year, FY2002-FY2007, to independent producers and producer-owned enterprises. There was also a 5% set-aside for organic production. $15 million of this funding was earmarked for 10 new Agriculture Innovation Centers for technical assistance to value-added agricultural businesses. The 10 centers were named in FY2003. The Rural America Infrastructure Development Account authorized a one-time funding of pending water and waste water applications of $360 million. The Rural Firefighters and Emergency Personnel Grant Program provided $10 million per year, FY2003-FY2007 funding to train emergency response personnel.

Appropriators blocked most of the mandatory funding for several of these programs between FY2004 and FY2007. Other mandatory programs were funded through authorized discretionary appropriations, although not always in the same amounts as authorized. These provisions expired in 2007, although the 2008 farm bill ( P.L. 110-246 ) reauthorized several of these programs and funded them through annual appropriations rather than mandatory spending.

Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246)

This is the most recent omnibus farm bill, enacted in June 2008. The bill expired in September 2012 and was extended through December 2013 at current funding levels by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 ( P.L. 112-240 ). Title VI of this farm bill expanded broadband access in rural areas, created a new micro-entrepreneurial assistance program and a new rural collaborative investment program, and authorized three new regional economic development authorities. The bill also authorized $120 million for a one-time funding of pending water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Several programs authorized with mandatory spending in the 2002 farm bill were reauthorized with discretionary funding in the farm bill (Rural Firefighters and Emergency Personnel, Rural Business Investment Program, and Access to Broadband Services in Rural Areas). The Value-Added Product Grants Program, similarly authorized in the 2002 farm bill, was also reauthorized by P.L. 110-246 with $15 million of annual mandatory funding and $40 million of annual discretionary funding.

The 2008 farm bill also modified the 2002 definition of "rural" to include "areas rural in character." This latter designation gives the Under Secretary for Rural Development discretion to make eligible certain rural areas that otherwise might be excluded from eligibility for USDA loans and grants. The section also made special designations for San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Honolulu, Hawaii. The provision also modified the definition of "rural" to establish criteria for defining rural areas that are contiguous to urban areas. Other new provisions in the rural development title included the following programs:

loans and loan guarantees for locally or regionally produced agricultural food products supported by a 5% carve-out from the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program; a Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program to target economically disadvantaged microentrepreneurs (i.e., those who could compete in the private sector but have been impaired because of lack of credit opportunities and limited equity capital options); a Rural Collaborative Business Investment Program to increase the availability of equity capital in rural areas; the provision authorizes Regional Investment Strategy Grants, Rural Innovation Grants, and a Rural Endowment Loan Program; and three new regional economic development commissions: (1) Northern Border Regional Commission, (2) Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and (3) Southwest Border Regional Commission.

In addition to these newly authorized programs, the rural development title also included other provisions to create or to reauthorize and/or amend a wide variety of loan and grant programs that provide further assistance in four key areas: (1) broadband and telecommunications, (2) rural utilities infrastructure, (3) business and community development, and (4) regional development.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-79)

The 2008 farm bill expired in 2012, but the 112 th Congress did not complete action and instead extended the law for one year ( P.L. 112-240 ). On February 7, 2014, the President signed into law the most recent farm bill, the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( P.L. 113-79 ). The bill authorized funding for many USDA Rural Development programs through FY2018.

The Rural Development title of the 2014 farm bill reauthorized most existing rural development programs. The bill amended the water and waste water direct and guaranteed loan programs to encourage financing by private or cooperative lenders to the maximum extent possible. The law also provided a 3%-5% carve-out of the Community Facilities appropriation for technical assistance, and also encouraged the use of loan guarantees where possible. The law also included a new provision directing the Secretary of Agriculture to begin collecting data on the economic effects of the projects that USDA Rural Development funds to assess their long- and short-term viability, and directed the Secretary to develop simplified applications for funding.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 eliminated several business programs, but consolidated many of their objectives into a broader program of Business Development grants. The law also provided $150 million in mandatory spending for pending rural development loans and grants and $63 million in mandatory spending for the Value-Added Product Grants program.

The law retained the 2008 farm bill provision permitting communities that might otherwise be ineligible for USDA funding to petition USDA to designate their communities as "rural in character," thereby making them eligible for program support. The law also amended the definition of rural area in the 1949 Housing Act so that areas deemed rural between 2000 and 2010 would retain that designation until USDA receives data from the 2020 decennial census. The provision also raised the population threshold for eligibility from 25,000 to 35,000.

The law also reauthorized funding for programs under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, including the Access to Broadband Telecommunications Services in Rural Areas Program and the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. For Access to Broadband Telecommunication Services in Rural Areas, the law also established new procedures to compare applications and to set funding priorities. Additionally, a new Gigabit Network Pilot Program for high-speed broadband service was authorized at $10 million for each fiscal year FY2014-FY2018. The law also authorized a new Rural Energy Savings Program to fund loans to qualified consumers to implement energy efficiency measures.

USDA Rural Development Mission Agencies

The following sections outline the various loan and grant programs administered by the three principal USDA Rural Development mission agencies: Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Program objectives, statutory authority, eligibility, and FY2005-FY2011 funding levels are provided. An overview of the programs administered by USDA's Office of Community Development is also provided.

Rural Housing Legislation

Rural Housing Issues: Background

Key characteristics of rural housing needs are suggested by the following:

Rural areas have a disproportionate share of the nation's substandard housing. There is a high incidence of poverty in rural America. There is an inadequate supply of affordable rural housing to meet demand in many rural areas. Mobile homes are increasingly pervasive in many rural areas. Homeownership is the principal form of housing in rural America. Rural households pay more of their income for housing than their urban counterparts. Hundreds of rural communities nationwide do not have access to clean residential drinking water and safe waste disposal systems. Development costs in rural areas are often disproportionately higher. Rural residents may have more limited access to mortgage credit. Rural minorities are less likely to own their homes than rural white households.

Housing Act of 1949 (P.L. 81-171) (42 U.S.C. 1441 et seq.)

The preamble to this landmark legislation declares that every American deserves a "decent home and a suitable living environment." Housing in the post-World War II era was in short supply, and many cities had housing that was in deteriorating condition. The Housing Act for the first time placed the federal government in the role of physically shaping U.S. urban and suburban areas. In doing so, the act influenced state and local polices regarding not only housing, but more broadly, social welfare policy, race relations, and economic development decisions. The act was significant in its creation of a new federal role, but it also was significant in establishing housing as a central policy focus, a focus that is more diminished today.

To meet the goals of more and better housing, Title I of the Housing Act financed slum clearance under urban redevelopment/renewal programs. Title II increased authorization for Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance. Title III committed the federal government to building 810,000 new public housing units by 1955. While the provisions of these titles were strongly influenced by cities and their immediately adjacent suburban areas, the Housing Act also recognized the shortages and low-quality housing that characterized much of rural America.

Title V of the act gave authorization to the Farmers Home Administration to grant mortgages for the purchase or repair of rural single-family houses. Title V authorized financial assistance in rural areas to farmers, owners, developers, and elderly persons for the purchase of rural property and construction of adequate facilities, insurance on various loans, and financial assistance for rental housing for farm workers. Through the Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program account established by the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-117), the USDA Rural Housing Service today, as with the Farmers Home Administration in the past, insures and guarantees a variety of housing loans for home purchases, repair, and rental housing development.

The Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-448) (42 U.S.C. 1441a) (82 Stat. 476)

This legislation reaffirmed the 1949 Housing Act, but also placed greater emphasis on the failures of the 1949 act to address the problems of housing for low-income families. The 1968 act authorized the Federal Housing Administration's Section 235 homeownership program with the goal of expanding homeownership, especially among low-income families. The 1968 act had the goal of creating nearly 26 million new units of housing, 6 million of which were to be reserved for low-income persons. The legislation enacts the New Communities Act of 1968, National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, Urban Property Protection and Reinsurance Act of 1968, and Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act. The 1968 act also created the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae).

Rural Housing Amendments of 1983 (P.L. 98-181) (42 U.S.C. 1490k to 1490o)

Titles I through V are also referred to as the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983. It amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and the United States Housing Act of 1937. Title V amends the 1949 Housing Act to require that at least 40% of all dwelling units financed by a rural housing loan through the Farmers Home Administration (now Rural Housing Service) and at least 30% of such units in each state be available only for very low-income persons and families. It authorizes loans for manufactured homes and lots meeting specified safety standards and installation, structural, site, and energy-conserving requirements, whether such homes and lots are real property, personal property, or both.

USDA Rural Housing Service (RHS)

The following programs are authorized by the Housing Act of 1949 (as amended) and include programs for individual homeownership and rental housing. The programs do not require annual reauthorization or reauthorization in periodic omnibus farm bills. Budget authorization is expressed in terms of loan subsidies and loan authority . Housing loan subsidies are transfers from the Treasury to lenders who may then provide loans at reduced interest rates to low-income borrowers who otherwise would not be able to obtain credit under a lender's usual criteria. Loan authority refers to the total value of all loans made under a particular program. A subsidy "leverages" a larger loan amount. A small total loan subsidy permits a relatively large amount of principal actually lent to a borrower. Loan authorization refers to the total amount of loan indebtedness that Congress permits a particular program to assume.

Funding for Rural Housing Service homeownership programs is provided by the Rural Housing Insurance Fund through three financing mechanisms: (1) direct loans, (2) guaranteed loans, and (3) grants. Direct loans are loans whose principal is subsidized by the federal government. The principal for a guaranteed loan is provided by a private lender, but the lender is protected by the federal government in the event a borrower defaults. If a guaranteed loan is made at market interest rates and the default rate is zero, then the cost to the federal government for making the guaranteed loan is zero. A grant is a direct outlay to an applicant, often on the basis of a competition for funds. Funding levels for individual grants, loan subsidies, and total levels of loan authorization are established in annual appropriations legislation.

Section 502 Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program

This is USDA's main housing loan program and is designed to help low-income individuals purchase houses in rural areas. Funds can also be used to build, repair, or renovate a house, including providing water and sewage facilities. The program provides fixed-interest mortgage financing to low-income families who are unable to obtain credit elsewhere. The program also provides "supervised credit" including pre-loan and post-loan credit counseling to its borrowers to help them maintain their homes during financial crises. While the program benefits rural areas nationwide, the highest benefits (in per capita dollars) are in low-income areas such as the Delta South and rapidly growing areas in the West.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 502 of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C., Chapter 8A, Subchapter III, 1471, et seq.

Financing: Loans are subsidized at a graduated interest rate from 1% over Treasury's cost of money, depending on family income. Applicants may obtain 100% financing and loans are for up to 33 years (38 years for those with incomes below 60% of the area median household income). Interest rates are determined so that a family pays from 22% to 26% of their income for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.

Eligibility: Borrowers must be either very-low income (less than 50% of median family income in the rural area where they reside) or low-income (50%-80% of median family income). Housing must be modest in size, design, and cost.

Funding: Enacted loan authorization in FY2005: $1.14 billion; FY2006: $1.13 billion; FY2007: $1.13 billion; FY2008: $1.12 billion; FY2009: $1.1 billion; FY2010: $1.1 billion; FY2011: $1.1 billion; FY2012: $900 million; FY2013: $840.1 million; FY2014: $900.0 million; FY2015: $900.0 million; FY2016: $900.0 million. Loan subsidies (budget authority) FY2005: $132.1 million; FY2006: $128.6 million; FY2007: $113.3 million; FY2008: $105.1 million; FY2009: $75.4 million; FY2010: $40.7 million; FY2011: $70.1 million; FY2012: $45.6 million; FY2013: $50.1 million; FY2014: $24.5 million; FY2015: $66.4 million; FY2016: $60.7 million.

Section 502 Guaranteed Single Family Housing Purchase and Refinance Loans

Provides loan guarantees to private lenders for low- and moderate-income families to purchase housing. Objective is to provide an incentive to private lenders to offer loans for 30-year mortgages to rural residents who would otherwise be unable to obtain credit.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 502 of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C., Chapter 8A, Subchapter III, 1471, et seq.

Financing: The government guarantees 90% of loan principal as an encouragement to private lenders to make loans to rural residents whose incomes are between 80% and 115% of the median county income. Loans may be up to 100% of market value or acquisition costs, whichever is less. There is no down payment requirement.

Funding : Enacted loan authorization in FY2005: $3.28 billion; FY2006: $3.64 billion; FY2007: $3.64 billion; FY2008: $4.19 billion; FY2009: $6.2 billion; FY2010: $12.0 billion; FY2011: $24.0 billion; FY2012: $24.0 billion; FY2013: $24.0 billion: FY2014: $24.0 billion; FY2015: $24.0 billion; FY2016: $24.0 billion. Loan subsidies (budget authority) in FY2005: $33.3 million; FY2006: $40.5 million; FY2007: $42.6 million; FY2008: $50.0 million. FY2009: $79.0 million; FY2010: $172.8 million. Beginning in FY2011, the program became self-funding and required no budget authority to support the loan authorization level.

Section 504 Very Low-Income Rural Housing Repair Loan and Housing Assistance Grants Program

This program provides loan and grant assistance to very-low and low-income homeowners to make housing repairs that remove various health and safety hazards from their houses or to improve or modernize a home. Grants may be made to cover the costs of such improvements as repairing roofs, providing toilet facilities, providing a convenient and sanitary water supply, and installation costs in obtaining central water and sewer service.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 504 of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C., Chapter 8A, Subchapter III, 1471, et seq.

Financing: Loans of up to $20,000 and grants of up to $7,500 are available.

Eligibility Criteria: Loans are available to very low-income rural residents who own and occupy a dwelling in need of repair. A homeowner must be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere. Grants are limited to elderly home owners (age 62 and older) whose incomes are 50% or less of the median in the rural area where they reside. Grant funds may be used only for removal of a health or safety hazard. Loan and grant assistance cannot exceed $27,000 to an individual.

Funding: Enacted loan authorization in FY2005: $36.7 million (includes emergency supplemental); FY2006: $68.8 million (includes emergency supplemental); FY2007: $34.6 million; FY2008: $34.4 million; FY2009: $34.4 million; FY2010: $34.4 million; FY2011: $23.4 million; FY2012: $10.0 million; FY2013: $26.1 million; FY2014: $26.3 million; FY2015: $26.3 million; FY2016: $26.3 million. Loan subsidies (budget authority) in FY2005: $10.6 million (includes emergency supplemental); FY2006: $20.1 million (includes emergency supplemental); FY2007: $10.2 million; FY2008: $9.7 million; FY2009: $9.2 million; FY2010: $4.4 million; FY2011: $4.4 million; FY2012: $1.4 million; FY2013: $1.8 million; FY2014: $2.2 million; FY2015: $3.7 million; FY2016: $3.4 million. Housing Assistance Grants in FY2005: $37.4 million (includes emergency supplemental); FY2006: $49.6 million (includes emergency supplemental); FY2007: $29.7 million; FY2008: $38.7 million; FY2009: $41.5 million; FY2010: $45.5 million; FY2011: $40.3 million; FY2012: $33.1 million; FY2013: $3.6 million; FY2014: $32.2 million; FY2015:$32.2 million; FY2016: $32.2 million.

Section 514 and 516 Farm Labor Housing Program Loan and Grant Program

This is the only nationwide program to provide housing for farm laborers. Loans and grants are provided to buy, build, improve, or repair housing for farm labor, including persons whose income is earned in aquaculture and on-farm processing. Section 516 grants are used in conjunction with the loans to finance affordable, off-farm rental housing to low-wage farm workers. The 2008 farm bill amended the Farm Labor Housing program to include aquaculture workers and workers in commodity processing facilities.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 514 and 516 of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C., Chapter 8A, Subchapter III, 1484 and 1486.

Financing: This program provides direct loans to farm owners, Indian tribes, farmer associations, public bodies, and nonprofit organizations to provide living quarters, furnishings, and related facilities for domestic farm workers. Section 514 loans have a 1% interest rate and a maximum repayment term of 33 years. Grants may cover up to 90% of development costs.

Eligibility Criteria: Farm workers who lease Section 514/516 units must be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and the majority of their income must come from farm work. Grants are available only to governments or nonprofit organizations.

Funding : Loan authorization in FY2005: $32.9 million ($15.5 million in subsidies) and $30.3 million in grants; FY2006: $38.1 million ($17.0 million in loan subsidies) and $13.9 million in grants; FY2007: $38.1 million ($18.3 million in loan subsidies) and $13.9 million in grants; FY2008: $27.5 million ($11.9 million in loan subsidies) and $9.9 million in grants; FY2009: $21.7 million ($9.1 million in loan subsidies) and $9.1 million in grants; FY2010: $27.3 million ($9.9 million in subsidies) and $9.9 million in grants; FY2011: $25.7 million ($9.8 million in subsidies) and $9.8 million in grants; FY2012: $27.3 million ($7.1 million in subsidies) and $7.1 million in grants; FY2013: $21.4 million ($7.1 million in subsides) and $8.3 million in grants; FY2014: $23.8 million ($5.6 million in subsidies) and $8.3 million in grants; FY2015: $23.6 million ($7.6 million in subsidies) and $8.3 million in grants; FY2016: $23.8 million ($6.8 million in subsidies) and $8.3 million in grants.

Section 523 Mutual and Self-Help Grant Program

This program allows very-low- and low-income rural Americans to use "sweat equity" to reduce the costs of home ownership. Nonprofit organizations and local governments may obtain grant funds to enable them to provide technical assistance to groups of families that work cooperatively to build their houses. Typically, future homeowners use Section 502 direct loans to finance their mortgages and, through their own labor on constructing the house, are able to reduce costs by 10%-15% while learning construction skills.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 523 (b)(1)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C. 1490(c)(B).

Financing: Grants. Grantees typically also use Section 502 loans, although other mortgage tools are also used. Funds may be used to pay salaries, rent, and office expenses of the participating nonprofit organizations. Pre-development grants up to $10,000 are available to qualified organizations.

Eligibility Criteria: Low income (50%-80% of area median family income).

Funding : Grants for FY2005: $34.0 million; FY2006: $ 32.3 million; FY2007: $33.9 million; FY2008: $38.7 million; FY2009: $38.7 million; FY2010: $41.9 million; FY2011: $36.9 million; FY2012: $30.0 million; FY2013: $27.7 million; FY2014: $25.0 million; FY2015: $27.5 million; FY2016: $27.5 million.

Section 523 Rural Housing Site Loan Program

This program provides funds to nonprofit organizations to develop building sites for low- and moderate-income participants in the Self-Help Housing Program. The nonprofit organizations resell these improved sites to program participants at cost. The interest rate on the loans is 3%, and the nonprofit organizations repay the loans when they sell these properties.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 523 (b)(1)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C. 1490(c)(B).

Financing: Loans are for two years. Section 523 loans bear 3% interest rates.

Eligibility Criteria: Section 523 loans are made to acquire and develop sites only for housing constructed by the self-help method.

Funding: Loan authorization FY2005: $2.3 million; FY2006: $5.0 million; FY2007: $5.0 million; FY2008: $5.0 million; FY2013: $10.0 million; FY2014: $5.0 million. Subsidy levels (budget authority) FY2005: $0; FY2006: $51,000; FY2007: $123,000; FY2008: $141,000; FY2009: $82,000; FY2010: $0; FY2011: $288,000; FY2012: $0; FY2013: $0; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $5 million; FY2016: $5.0 million.

Section 524 Rural Housing Site Loan Program

This program is very similar to the Section 523 program above except that once the sites are developed, they may be provided to any low- or moderate-income person, not just to the self-help participant.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 524 (b)(1)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C. 1480(d).

Financing: Loans are for two years. Section 524 loans bear the market rate of interest.

Eligibility Criteria: Section 524 loans are made to acquire and develop sites for any low- or moderate-income family.

Funding : Loan authorization in FY2005: $450,000; FY2006: $5.0 million; FY2007: $5.0 million; FY2008: $5.0 million; FY2009: $5.0 million; FY2010: $5.0 million; FY2011: $5.0 million; FY2012: $0; FY2013: $0; FY2014: $5.0 million; FY2015: $5.0 million; FY2016: $5.0 million. The program is self-funding so loan subsidies are not necessary to support the loan authorization level.

Section 533 Housing Preservation Grant Program

This program provides funding through nonprofit groups, Indian tribes, and government agencies to very-low- and low-income home owners to repair their houses, and to rental property owners for the rehabilitation of rental and cooperative housing to be rented to very-low- and low-income families.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 533 of the Housing Act of 1949 (amended by Section 522 of the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983); 42 U.S.C., Chapter 8A, Subchapter III, 1490m.

Financing: Grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Low- and very-low-income rural residents. Grants may also be made to rental property owners if they agree to make such units available to low- and very-low-income occupants. Assistance is limited to $15,000 per unit.

Funding : FY2005: $8.8 million; FY2006: $9.9 million; FY2007: $9.9 million; FY2008: $9.7 million; FY2009: $10.1 million; FY2010: $9.4 million; FY2011: $8.6 million; FY2012: $7.4 million; FY2013: $3.3 million; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $0.

Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Direct Loans

The Section 515 rental housing program houses the poor through 50-year, 1% loans and rental assistance. The program is typically used in conjunction with the Section 521 Rental Assistance Program (see below). With assistance, tenants pay a maximum of 30% of their income toward rent and utilities. Some 515 projects also use Housing and Urban Development Section 8 project-based assistance, which enables additional very-low-income families to be helped. There are four variations of the Section 515 loan program: (1) Cooperative Housing, (2) Downtown Renewal Areas, (3) Congregate Housing or Group Homes for Persons with Disabilities, and (4) the Rural Housing Demonstration Program.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C. 1490(c).

Financing: This program uses a public-private partnership to provide direct subsidized interest loans at 1% interest rate to limited-profit and nonprofit developers to construct or to renovate affordable rental complexes in rural areas.

Eligibility Criteria: For very-low-, low-, and moderate-income families. In new Section 515 projects, 95% of tenants must have very low incomes. In existing projects, 75% of new tenants must have very low incomes.

Funding: Loan authorization for FY2005: $99.2 million; FY2006: $99.0 million; FY2007: $99.9 million; FY2008: $68.2 million; FY2009: $67.7 million; FY2010: $69.5 million; FY2011: $69.5 million; FY2012: $64.5 million; FY2013: $29.2 million; FY2014: $28.4 million; FY2015: $28.4 million; FY2016: $28.4 million. Loan subsidies (budget authority) for FY2005: $46.7 million; FY2006: $45.4 million; FY2007: $45.2 million; FY2008: $29.0 million; FY2009: $27.8 million; FY2010: $18.9 million; FY2011: $23.4 million; FY2012: $22.0 million; FY2013: $10.3 million; FY2014: $6.6 million; FY2015: $9.8 million; FY2016: $8.4 million.

Section 538 Multi-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program

The program funds construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of multifamily housing for low- to moderate-income residents. It provides 90% loan guarantees to certified lenders to make rental housing affordable to low- and moderate-income residents. For the nonprofit sector, the program covers 97% loan-to-value ratios.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 538 of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C. 1485.

Financing: Guarantees market-rate loans made by private lenders.

Eligibility Criteria: Residents of the completed housing facility must be very-low- to moderate-income households; or elderly, or disabled persons with income not in excess of 115% of the median income of the surrounding area.

Funding : Loan authorization in FY2005: $97.2 million; FY2006: $99.0 million; FY2007: $99.0 million; FY2008: $129.0 million; FY2009: $120.8 million; FY2010: $129.1 million; FY2011: $31.0 million; FY2012: $130.0 million; FY2013: $150.0 million; FY2014: $150.0 million; FY2015: $150.0 million; FY2016: $150.0 million. Loan subsides (budget authority) for FY2005: $3.4 million; FY2006: $5.4 million; FY2007: $7.6 million; FY2008: $12.1 million; FY2009: $8.1 million; FY2010: $1.5 million; FY2011: $3 million; FY2012: $0; FY2013: $0; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $0.

Section 521 Rental Assistance Grant Program

The objective of this program is to help mitigate the burden on the nearly 25% of rural households who pay more than 30% of their income on housing costs.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 521(a)(2) of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C. 1490.

Financing: Rental Assistance is project-based assistance used in conjunction with Section 515 and Section 514/516 loan/grant programs. The program provides rental assistance directly to the owners of some RHS-financed projects under contracts specifying that beneficiaries will pay no more than 30% of their income for rent. The program makes up the difference between the tenant's contribution and the rental charge.

Eligibility Criteria: The subsidy goes to the housing unit, not an individual tenant. In effect, the subsidy indirectly goes to the tenant through lower rent payments.

Funding: FY2005: $587.3 million; FY2006: $646.6 million; FY2007: $608.1 million; FY2008: $478.7 million; FY2009: $902.5 million; FY2010: $968.6 million; FY2011: $953.7 million; FY2012: $904.6 million; FY2013: $834.3 million; FY2014: $1.1 billion; FY2015: $1.1 million; FY2016: $1.2 million. (Rental assistance funding also includes rental assistance under the Section 502 (c)(5)(D) program, Section 515, and farm labor housing new construction.)

Housing Demonstration Program

Under this program, RHS may provide loans to low-income borrowers to purchase innovative housing units and systems that do not meet existing published standards, rules, regulations, or policies. The objective of the demonstration programs is to test new approaches to constructing housing under the statutory authority granted to the Secretary of Agriculture. The intended effect is to increase the availability of affordable rural housing for low-income families through innovative designs and systems.

Statutory Authority: Title V, Section 506(b), Housing Act of 1949; 42 U.S.C. 1476.

Financing: Loans and grants. Aggregate expenditures for the demonstration may not exceed $10 million in any fiscal year.

Eligibility Criteria: Section 506 (b) requires that the health and safety of the population of the areas in which the demonstrations are carried out will not be adversely affected.

Funding: Program funding is reserved through other RHS programs listed above.

Rural Community Facilities Program Account

The Community Facilities loan and grant program, administered by RHS, supports essential community facilities in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less. Essential facilities include fire stations, community centers, child care centers, and medical clinics, among other uses. In the Administration's 2015 Broadband Opportunity Initiative, broadband was cited as a potentially eligible program given the Community Facilities program's assistance to health clinics and recreation centers. Funding is allocated to state rural development offices, where state directors set priorities particular to their state's rural needs. From the total appropriation, the Community Facilities account also supports a rural community development initiative and an economic impact initiative. The 2014 farm bill ( P.L. 113-79 , Section 6006) authorized a technical assistance and training component for the Community Facilities program to assist communities in identifying and planning community facility needs. The provision authorizes not less than 3% or more than 5% of the total Community Facilities appropriation for the technical assistance component.

Rural Community Facilities Direct and Guaranteed Loans

Loans are made for constructing, enlarging, or improving essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of not more than 20,000 population. Eligible applicants must demonstrate that they cannot obtain funding in the commercial market at reasonable rates. Applications for health and public safety projects receive the highest priority. Interest rates are determined by the median family income of the area and range from 4.5% to 5.375%. In the case of guaranteed loans, the loans are made by a private lender, and the interest rate is negotiated between lender and borrower.

Statutory Authority: Section 306(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972.

Financing: Direct and guaranteed loans.

Eligibility Criteria: Priority is for loans to build essential community facilities that support public health and safety. The highest priority goes to projects located in communities with a population of 5,000 or less and to projects serving communities with median household incomes below the higher of the poverty line or 60% of the state non-metropolitan median household income. Health care, public safety, or public and community services are priority areas.

Funding : Loan authorization levels for direct loans in FY2005: $729.3 million (includes hurricane emergency supplemental funding); FY2006: $297.0 million; FY2007: $297.0 million; FY2008: $294.9 million; FY2009: $294.9 million; FY2010: $294.9 million; FY2011: $290.5 million; FY2012: $1.3 billion; FY2013: $1.3 billion; FY2014: $2.2 billion; FY2015: $2.2 billion; FY2016: $2.2 billion. Subsidy levels for direct loans in FY2005: $29.5 million; FY2006: $9.9 million; FY2007: $19.0 million; FY2008: $16.4 million; FY2009: $16.8 million; FY2010: $3.8 million; FY2011: $3.8 million; FY2012: $0; FY2013: $0; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $0. Loan authorization levels for guaranteed loans in FY2005: $194.9 million; FY2006: $207.9 million; FY2007: $207.9 million; FY2008: $206.4 million; FY2009: $206.4 million; FY2010: $206.4 million; FY2011: $167.7 million; FY2012: $105.7 million; FY2013: $53.3 million; FY2014: $59.5 million; FY2015: $73.2 million; FY2016: $148.3 million. Subsidy levels for guaranteed loans in FY2005: $6.8 million; FY2006: $7.6 million; FY2007: $7.6 million; FY2008: $7.6 million; FY2009: $6.4 million; FY2010: $6.6 million; FY2011: $6.6 million; FY2012: $5.0 million; FY2013: $3.6 million; FY2014: $3.8 million; FY2015: $3.5 million; FY2016: $3.5 million.

Community Facility Grants

In most cases, these grants are used in conjunction with the direct loan program to make essential community facilities available to the neediest communities, which often cannot afford even direct loans without additional subsidies. These grants were authorized under the 1996 farm bill ( P.L. 104-127 ).

Statutory Authority: Section 306(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972.

Financing: Grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Low-income communities unable to secure funding on a loan basis. Public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and special purpose districts (e.g., nursing homes) are eligible applicants. Funding is for communities of 20,000 or less. Priority is given to communities of 5,000 or less. Facility must serve areas where median household income is below the poverty line or 90% of the state non-metropolitan median household income. The Community Facilities Grant Program is typically used to fund projects under special initiatives, such as Native American community development efforts, child care centers linked with the federal government's Welfare-to-Work initiative, Economic Impact Initiative Grants, federally designated Enterprise and Champion Communities, and the Northwest Economic Adjustment Initiative.

Funding: FY2005: $24.5 million (includes hurricane emergency supplemental funding); FY2006: $16.8 million; FY2007: $16.8 million; FY2008: $20.4 million; FY2009: $20.4 million; FY2010: $20.4 million; FY2011: $15.0 million; FY2012: $11.4 million. Additional grant funds are earmarked in the Community Facilities Account for Economic Impact Initiative Grants targeted to communities suffering economic hardship and population out-migration: FY2005: $19.7 million; FY2006: $17.8 million; FY2007: $17.8 million; FY2008: $20.4 million; FY2009: $10.0 million; FY2010: $13.9 million; FY2011: $7.0 million; FY2012: $6.0 million; FY2013: $12.1 million; FY2014: $13.0 million; FY2015: $13.0 million; FY2016: $25.0 million.

Rural Community Development Initiative Grants

A program authorized in FY2002. The program provides grants for capacity-building among private, nonprofit community development organizations and low-income rural communities in the areas of housing, community facilities, and community and economic development. Funds are available to qualified intermediaries that can be public or private organizations (including tribal organizations) that have been legally organized for at least three years and have experience working with eligible recipients.

Statutory Authority: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 ( P.L. 106-387 ; 7 U.S.C. 1932).

Financing: Competitive grants. Requires dollar for dollar matching funds.

Eligibility Criteria: Only qualified intermediary organizations are eligible for the technical assistance grants. Such organizations must supply matching funds from non-Federal sources to receive the grants.

Funding: FY2005: $3.9 million; FY2006: $6.3 million; FY2007: $6.3 million; FY2008: $6.3 million; FY2009: $6.3 million; FY2010: $6.3 million; FY2011: $5 million; FY2012: $3.6 million; FY2013: $5.7 million; FY2014: $6.0 million; FY2015: $4.0 million; FY2016: $4.0 million.

Economic Impact Initiative Grants

The program provides funding for essential community facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression/dislocation. Eligible applications include public entities, nonprofits, and tribal organizations. Eligible rural areas are those with 20,000 or fewer residents and a unemployment rate greater than 19.5%. Median household income must be below 90% of the state non-metropolitan median household income level.

Statutory Authority: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 ( P.L. 111-80 ; 7 U.S.C. 1926).

Financing: Competitive grants up to 75% of eligible projects costs.

Eligibility Criteria: Rural areas of 20,000 or less; unemployment rate of more than 19.5%; median household income below 90% of non-metro median household

Funding: FY2012: $8.0 million; FY2013: $7.3 million; FY2014: $5.8 million; FY2015: $5.8 million; FY2016: $5.8 million.

USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS)

Creating, expanding, and retaining employment in rural areas have been central concerns of rural development policies for nearly 75 years. Originally, agriculture, mining, fishing, and timbering related jobs were major targets of public funding. Since the mid-1950s, manufacturing was regarded as the most promising source of rural employment as jobs in the primary sectors declined. Abundant and largely non-unionized labor, inexpensive land, and minimal environmental regulation were rural America's competitive advantage as many manufacturing facilities sought branch production facilities. While manufacturing has provided relatively high-paying and stable employment for many rural residents, the U.S. rural manufacturing sector finds itself today competing with developing countries and with Eastern Europe. Low-skilled, peripheral manufacturing facilities have left many U.S. rural areas. Even employers in more advanced manufacturing production have moved from rural U.S. areas to offshore employment. Today, rural areas are trying to create new sources of competitive advantage in more technologically sophisticated production with higher-skill labor. With lack of capital a significant factor in many rural areas, the RBS provides loans and grants to help local entrepreneurs in starting up businesses and in expanding existing businesses. Other RBS programs provide specialized technical and marketing assistance. Programs authorized in the past three farm bills also addressed the needs of rural businesses, especially in capital formation.

Rural Intermediary Relending Program (Also Known as the Rural Development Loan Program)

These direct loans are made to private nonprofit corporations, state or local government agencies, Indian tribes, and cooperatives that, in turn, capitalize a revolving loan program and lend the funds to rural businesses, private nonprofit organizations, and others. Assistance from the intermediary to the ultimate recipient must be for economic development projects, establishment of new businesses, and/or expansion of existing businesses, creation of new employment opportunities and/or saving existing rural jobs.

Statutory Authority: Health and Human Services Act of 1986, Section 407, P.L. 99-425 , 7 U.S.C. 1932 note; Food Security Act of 1985, Section 1323, as amended, P.L. 99-198 , 7 U.S.C. 1631; Community Economic Development Act of 1981, Section 623, as amended, P.L. 97-35 , 42 U.S.C. 9812; 7 U.S.C. 1932; 42 U.S.C. 9812.

Financing: Loans are made by RBS to intermediaries to capitalize a revolving loan program that provides loans to ultimate recipients for business facilities and community development projects.

Eligibility Criteria: Financing is limited to community development projects not within the outer boundary of any city having a population of 25,000 or more.

Funding : Loan authorization for FY2005: $33.9 million; FY2006: $33.9 million; FY2007: $33.9 million; FY2008: $33.0 million; FY2009: $33.5 million; FY2010: $33.5 million; FY2011: $19.2 million; FY2012: $17.7 million; FY2013: $17.4 million; FY2014: $18.9 million; FY2015: $18.9 million; FY2016: $18.9 million. Loan subsidies (budget authority) for FY2005: $15.7 million; FY2006: $14.5 million; FY2007: $14.9 million; FY2008: $14.5 million; FY2009: $14.4 million; FY2010: $8.5 million; FY2011: $7.4 million; FY2012: $6.0 million; FY2013: $5.6 million; FY2014: $4.1 million; FY2015: $5.8 million; FY2016: $5.2 million.

Rural Economic Development Loans

This program provides zero-interest loans for RUS borrowers who then re-lend the funds at zero interest to rural businesses. Budget authority for the loans does not come from annual appropriations, but from a "cushion-of-credit" account in the U.S. Treasury. RUS borrowers forward pay on their loans into the Treasury account, which earns a 5% annual interest rate. Appropriators authorize a level of loans that can be made, and the requisite budget authority to leverage that amount of loans comes from the interest earned on the cushion-of-credit account.

Statutory Authority: Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, Title III, 7 U.S.C. 930-940c; 7 U.S.C. 1932(a).

Financing: Direct loans.

Eligibility Criteria: Loans are made to electric and telephone utilities that have current loans with the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) or Rural Telephone Bank loans or guarantees outstanding and are not delinquent on any federal debt or in bankruptcy proceedings.

Funding: Loan authorization for FY2005: $24.3 million; FY2006: $24.7 million; FY2007: $24.7 million; FY2008: $33.1 million; FY2009: $33.1 million; FY2010: $33.1 million; FY2011: $33.1 million; FY2012: $33.1 million; FY2013: $33.1 million; FY2014: $33.1 million; FY2015: $33.1 million; FY2016: $33.1 million.

Rural Economic Development Grants

Grants are used to establish a revolving loan fund program to promote economic development in rural areas. The revolving loan fund provides capital to nonprofit organizations and municipal organizations to finance community facilities in rural areas that promote job creation and education and training to enhance marketable skills, or improve medical care.

Statutory Authority: Section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936; 7 U.S.C. 930-940(c); 7 U.S.C. 1932.

Financing: Grants. Funds are provided from the interest differential on Rural Utilities Service borrowers' cushion of credit accounts. The cushion of credit account was established under Section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act (REA). Under this program, RUS borrowers may make voluntary deposits into a special cushion of credit account. A borrower's cushion of credit account balance accrues interest to the borrower at an annual rate of 5%. The amounts in the cushion of credit account (deposits and earned interest) can only be used to make scheduled payments on loans made or guaranteed under REA.

Eligibility Criteria: Economic development projects benefitting rural areas. Funding may be used for feasibility studies, start-up costs, and incubator projects.

Funding: FY2005: $8.1 million; FY2006: $10.0 million; FY2007: $0; FY2008: $10.0 million; FY2009: $10.0 million; FY2010: $10.0 million; FY2011: $10.0 million; FY2012: $10.0 million; FY2013: $10.0 million; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $0.

Rural Cooperative Development Grants

The grants were established under the 1996 farm bill ( P.L. 104-127 ), which eliminated the term "technology" from the previously authorized Rural Technology and Cooperative Development Grant Program. Grants are made to fund the establishment and operation of centers for rural cooperative development with their primary purpose being the improvement of economic conditions in rural areas through the creation of new or improvement of cooperatives. Grants may be made to nonprofit institutions or higher education institutions. Grants may be used to pay up to 75% of the cost of the project and associated administrative costs. The applicant must contribute 25% from non-federal sources. Grants under this program are competitive and awarded on specific selection criteria.

Grants are also made to assist small minority producers. The 2008 farm bill authorized a reserve of 20% of the appropriated funding (if the total appropriation exceeds $7.5 million) for cooperative development centers, individual cooperatives, or groups of cooperatives that serve socially disadvantaged groups.

Statutory Authority: Section 310 B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1932(e); 42 U.S.C. 9817. The program was amended in the 2008 farm bill (Section 6013 of P.L. 110-246 ).

Financing: Grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Grants to nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education. For this program, rural is defined as all territories of a state not within the outer boundary of any city having a population of 50,000 or more based on the latest decennial census of the United States.

Funding: FY2005: $7.0 million; FY2006: $4.4 million; FY2007: $3.7 million; FY2008: $4.4 million; FY2009: $4.4 million; FY2010: $7.9 million; FY2011: $7.9 million; FY2012: $5.8 million; FY2013: $6.5 million; FY2014: $5.8 million; FY2015: $5.8 million; FY2016: $5.8 million.

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) Program

A cooperative agreement established by the 1985 farm bill, the program was transferred to the Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service in 1990. The 1996 farm bill transferred the program back to USDA's Rural Business Service. The program is an account of the Rural Cooperative Grants program. It provides information to farmers and other rural users on a variety of sustainable agricultural practices that include both cropping and livestock operations. The ATTRA program is located on the University of Arkansas campus at Fayetteville, AR, and functions as an information and technical assistance center staffed with sustainable agriculture specialists.

Statutory Authority: Section 1323 of the Food Security Act of 1985; 7 U.S.C. 1932.

Financing: The program is funded through a cooperative agreement between the not-for-profit National Center for Appropriate Technology and the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

Eligibility Criteria: Open.

Funding: For FY2005: $2.5 million; FY2006: $2.5 million; FY2007: $936,000; FY2008: $2.6 million; FY2009: $2.6 million; FY2010: $2.8 million; FY2011: $0; FY2012: $2.2 million; FY2013: $2.1 million; FY2014: $2.2 million; FY2015: $2.5 million; FY2016: $2.5 million.

Value-Added Agricultural Product Development Grants

The program provides grants to assist farmers and ranchers in creating greater value for agricultural commodities. The 2002 farm bill makes mandatory funding for this program through FY2007. A portion of the funds was reserved for the establishment of Agricultural Demonstration Centers, which will provide training and technical assistance to new or expanding value-added agricultural enterprises. Ten centers were established in FY2003 and funded at $1 million each. The program was reauthorized through 2012 in the 2008 farm bill ( P.L. 110-246 ).

Statutory Authority: Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 ( P.L. 106-224 ); Section 6401 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( P.L. 107-171 ).

Financing: Competitive grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Profit and nonprofit organizations, cooperatives.

Funding : FY2005: $15.5 million; FY2006: $20.5 million; FY2007: $20.3 million; FY2008: $18.9 million; FY2009: $3.9 million; FY2010: $20.7 million; FY2011: $18.8 million; FY2012: $14.0 million; FY2013: $13.9 million; FY2014: $15.0 million; FY2015: $10.7 million; FY2016: $10.7 million.

Rural Business Investment Program

This program was authorized by the 2002 farm bill and amended in the 2008 and 2014 farm bills. The program authorizes limited liability companies (Rural Business Investment Companies) to make equity capital investments in rural businesses. These companies are financed with both private funds and debt instruments guaranteed by the federal government. The program operates under a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce's Small Business Administration. The 2008 farm bill ( P.L. 110-246 ) amended some of the original provisions (e.g., permitting more time to capitalize a Rural Business Investment Company). The 2002 and 2008 farm bills authorized $50 million for the program. The 2014 farm bill reduced that authorization to $20 million annually FY2014-2018.

Statutory Authority: Section 6029, Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( P.L. 107-171 ).

Financing: Direct loans, guaranteed debentures, and grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Designation by the Secretary as a Rural Business Company.

Funding: "Such sums as necessary" are authorized to cover the costs of guaranteeing a total of $280 million of debentures. In addition, $44 million in mandatory funding is authorized for grants and $56 million for direct loan subsidies. A portion of the mandatory funding for the program was blocked by appropriators in FY2003 and FY2004 while providing some initial funding to begin the program. The program was reauthorized in the 2008 farm bill and provided $50 million for the period FY2008-FY2012. The 2014 farm bill reduced the authorization to $20 million FY2014-2018. FY 2016: $0 for loans and grants.

Rural Energy for America

This program provides funding to eligible farmers, ranchers, and small businesses in purchasing renewable energy systems and making existing energy systems more efficient. The program was reauthorized in the 2008 farm bill and renamed the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

Statutory Authority: Section 9006, Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( P.L. 107-171 ). Reauthorized as the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP, Section 9007) in the 2008 farm bill ( P.L. 110-246 ).

Financing : Loans and grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Agricultural producers with 50% of gross income coming from agricultural operations; small businesses in rural areas.

Funding: The program was authorized for $23.0 million in mandatory funds per fiscal year, FY2003-FY2007. Appropriators prohibited the expenditure of any of the mandatory funds to carry out the program in FY2005-FY2006, but did provide $23.0 million in discretionary funding in each year. The Administration requested cancelling the mandatory funding for FY2007 and providing $10.2 million in discretionary funding. For FY2007, $22.8 million was provided. For FY2008, $35.7 million was appropriated for loan subsides and grants. For FY2009-FY2012, $255 million in mandatory spending was authorized. In addition, $25 million annually in discretionary funding was also authorized for FY2009-FY2012. FY2010: $39.3 million; FY2011: $5 million; FY2012: $6.5 million in loan authorization and $1.7 million in loan subsidies, $0 grants; FY2013: $13.1 million in loan authorization and $3.1 million in loan subsidies, $0 grants; FY2014: $12.8 million in loan authorization and $3.5 million in loan subsidies, $0 grants; FY2015: $12.7 million loan authorization ($1.3 million loan subsidies), $0 grants; FY2016: $7.6 million loan authorization ($500,000 loan subsidies), $0 grants.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program

The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) provides grant funding to microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) and approved microlenders to support microenterprises in rural areas. Microenterprises will generally have 10 or fewer employees. MDOs also use funds from the Rural Business Cooperative Service to make fixed-interest rate micro-loans of up to $50,000 for startup and growing rural microenterprises. Grants are also available for training or other services for MDOs that support rural microenterprises.

Statutory Authority: Title VI, Subtitle D, Section 6022 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 ( P.L. 110-246 ); 7 U.S.C. 1981, et seq.

Financing : Fixed-interest direct loans and grants. Maximum loan amount to a microlender is $500,000. Maximum grant to an MDO is no more than 25% of the total outstanding balance of microloans made by the MDO. An MDO must provide matching funding of up to 15% of the total amount of the grant awarded to the MDO.

Eligibility Criteria: Funds are provided to MDOs and approved microlenders who use the funding to capitalize rural revolving loan funds for the exclusive purpose of making microloans to microenterprise borrowers, accepting payments from microenterprises, and repaying RBS as required in their loan agreements.

Funding: Mandatory funding of $4 million was provided in FY2010-FY2011 and $3 million in FY2012. Discretionary funding of $40 million each year FY2009-FY2012 was also authorized. For FY2010, funding of $5 million was provided ($11.7 million in loan authorization), divided evenly between loan subsidies and grants. FY2011: $0; FY2012: $0 (mandatory funding of $3 million was eliminated for FY2012); FY2013: $0; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $0.

Locally or Regionally Produced Agricultural Food Products

The 2008 farm bill authorized a new program that would make loan guarantees to individuals and businesses to provide locally and regionally produced foods. Providing food to underserved rural and urban areas and "food deserts" would be given priority. A locally or regionally produced food is defined as one for which the locality or region in which the final product is marketed is within 400 miles of the product's origin, or within the state in which the product is produced.

Statutory Authority: Section 310B(g) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; 7 U.S.C. 1932(g).

Financing : The provision authorizes loan guarantees through the Business and Industry loan program.

Eligibility Criteria: Locally and regionally produced foods are those marketed within 400 miles of the product's origin, or within the state. An underserved area is one with limited access to affordable, healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, in grocery retail stores or farmer-to-consumer direct markets. Areas with high rates of hunger or food insecurity or those with high poverty rates are also prioritized.

Funding: 5% of the funds appropriated for the Business and Industry Loan Guarantee program are reserved for loan guarantees to support locally and regionally produced foods. (See B&I discussion below.)

Healthy Food Financing Initiative

The 2014 farm bill (Section 4206) authorizes the creation of a Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) in USDA. The program operated through Community Development Financial Institutions designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Priorities for the program include job creation and retention and support for locally and regionally produced food. The program is authorized to receive $125 million to be available until expended. To date, the program has not been funded.

Rural Business Program Account

The Rural Business Program, administered by RBS, supports business development, training, and retention. Funding for the loan program is allocated to state rural development offices by formula where state directors set priorities particular to their state's rural needs. The account includes four budget lines: Rural Business Development Grants, the Delta Regional Authority, and the Business and Industry Guaranteed loan program. The 2014 farm bill reorganized two rural business programs, Rural Business Enterprise Grants and Rural Business Opportunity Grants (see below), into the new Rural Business Development Grants Program with similar functions.

Business and Industry (B&I) Direct and Guaranteed Loans

This program finances business and industry acquisition, construction, conversion, expansion, and repair in rural areas. Loan funds can be used to finance the purchase and development of land, supplies, and materials, and to pay start-up costs of rural businesses. Eligible applicants include individuals as well as public, private, and cooperative organizations. Although the RBS did make direct loans in FY2001 and in previous years, with the FY2002 budget forward, there have been no appropriations for the direct loan program.

Statutory Authority: Section 310B(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1932.

Financing: Subsidized interest loans and guarantees for loans provided by lenders. Interest rates for guaranteed loans are negotiated between a lender and a borrower. A maximum guaranteed loan is $25 million. For loans of $5 million or less, maximum percentage of a guarantee is 80%. For loans between $5 million and $10 million, maximum percentage of guarantee is 70%. For loans between $10 million and $25 million, maximum percentage of guarantee is 60%. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), all loans that score at least 55 points based on loan priority variables (7 C.F.R. 4279.166) have 90% of the principal guaranteed.

Eligibility Criteria: Borrowers must be unable to obtain credit from other lenders at reasonable rates and terms. Criteria for projects are (1) those that save existing jobs, (2) those that improve existing businesses or industry, and (3) those that create the greatest number of permanent jobs. Golf courses, race tracks, and gambling operations are ineligible.

Funding: No funding for the direct loan program has been provided since FY2001. Loan authorization levels for guaranteed loans (including North American Development Bank loan guarantees) in FY2005: $678.1 million loan authorization with a loan subsidy of $34.2 million; FY2006: $1.0 billion loan authorization with a subsidy of $48.4 million; FY2007: $914 million with a loan subsidy of $39.8 million; FY2008: $993 million with a loan subsidy of $43 million; FY2009: $993.0 million with a loan subsidy of $43.2 million; FY2010: $993.0 million with a loan subsidy of $52.9 million; FY2011: $889.1 million with a loan subsidy of $45.0 million; FY2012: $822.8 million with a loan subsidy of $45.3 million; FY2013: $890.2 million with a loan subsidy of $52.3 million; FY2014: $958.1 million with a loan subsidy of $67.0 million; FY2015: $919.8 million with a loan subsidy of $47.0 million; FY2016: $919.8 million with a loan subsidy of $35.8 million.

Rural Business Opportunity Grants19

Grants are made to public bodies, nonprofit organizations, Indian tribes, and cooperatives for training and technical assistance to rural businesses, economic planning for rural communities, or training for rural entrepreneurs or economic development officials.

Statutory Authority: Section 741, Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996; Section 306(a)(11)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1932. Reauthorized in the 2008 farm bill ( P.L. 110-246 ).

Financing : Competitive grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Grants are made to public bodies, nonprofit corporations, federally recognized tribal groups, and cooperatives with members that are primarily rural residents.

Funding: FY2005: $3.1 million; FY2006: $3.0 million; FY2007: $3 million; FY2008: $2.5 million; FY2009: $2.5 million; FY2010: $2.5 million; FY2011: $2.5 million; FY2012: $2.2 million; FY2013: $2.1 million; FY2014: $2.2 million.

Rural Business Enterprise Grants20

These are grants to encourage the development of small and emerging business enterprises and the creation and expansion of rural distance learning networks, and to provide educational instruction or job training related to potential employment for adult students. Grants are also available to qualified nonprofit organizations for provision of technical assistance and training to rural communities for improving passenger transportation services or facilities.

Statutory Authority: Section 310N(c) and 310B(f) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1932(c).

Financing: Competitive grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Priority for the grants is given to rural areas having a population of 25,000 or less. Other priorities include projects located in communities with large proportion of low-income residents and/or high unemployment.

Funding: FY2005: $41.3 million; FY2006: $39.6 million; FY2007: $39.6 million; FY2008: $38.7 million; FY2009: $38.7 million; FY2010: $38.7 million. Supplemental funding under ARRA added $19.7 million for the program; FY2011: $34.9 million; FY2012: $24.3 million; FY2013: $22.6 million; FY2014: $24.3 million.

Rural Business Development Grants Program

The Business Development Grants program was newly authorized in the 2014 farm bill. The program combines the functions of the former Business Opportunity Grants and the Rural Business Enterprise Grants. Up to 10% of appropriated funds may be used to identify and analyze business opportunities; identify, train, and provide technical assistance to existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and managers; assist in the establishment of new rural businesses and the maintenance of existing businesses; conduct economic development planning, coordination, and leadership development; and establish centers for training, technology, and trade. The balance of appropriated funding may be used for projects that support the development of business enterprises that finance or facilitate the development of small and emerging private business enterprise; the establishment, expansion, and operation of rural distance learning networks; the development of rural learning programs; and the provision of technical assistance and training to rural communities for the purpose of improving passenger transportation.

Statutory Authority : Section 6012 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( P.L. 113-79 ); Section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932).

Financing : Competitive grants.

Eligibility Criteria : Governmental entities, Indian tribes, and non-profit entities.

Funding : FY2014: $26.6 million; FY2015: $24.0 million; FY2016: $24.0 million.

Delta Regional Authority

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is a state-federal development authority providing economic assistance to 252 economically distressed counties and parishes in eight southern states—Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The DRA makes loans and grants for a variety of community projects supporting housing, business development, community facilities, and employment training.

Statutory Authority: Subtitle F, Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 ( P.L. 108-447 ; 7 U.S.C. 1921, et seq.).

Financing: Competitive grants.

Eligibility Criteria: At least 75% of DRA funds must be invested in economically distressed counties and parishes. Approximately half of the funds are earmarked for transportation and basic infrastructure improvement.

Funding: FY2005: $1 million; FY2006: $2 million; FY2007: $2 million; FY2008: $3 million; FY2009: $2.9 million; FY2010: $2.9 million; FY2011: $3 million; FY2012: $2.9 million; FY2013: $2.8 million; FY2014: $3.0 million; FY2015:$3.0 million; FY2016: $3.0 million. This appropriation does not include funding for the Delta Region Transportation Development program authorized by P.L. 109-59 . The Delta Regional Authority also receives funding under Independent Agency appropriations.

USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS)

Arguably, the earliest rural economic development policy consisted of providing infrastructure to get agricultural products to markets or to transportation nodes. Building railroads, roads, and telegraph lines represent early examples. Later, electricity and telephones constituted essential rural infrastructure. Because of great geographical distances and low population densities, rural areas would unlikely have had such services without federal support. The 1936 Rural Electrification Act discussed above was central to the provision of rural utilities in an urbanizing society. Today, rural electrification, telecommunications, and water infrastructure are the core programs administered by the Rural Utilities Service. New infrastructure includes facilities for health service delivery (e.g., telemedicine) and new broadband telecommunication resources. As was the case in the early years of the nation, great distances and sparse populations have also led Congress to provide funding for these new rural utilities as well as continuing support for telephones and electrical generation and transmission.

Electrification Loan Program

Loans are made to expand, upgrade, maintain, and replace rural electric infrastructure. Interest rates are tied to the economic conditions of the areas served and the costs of providing services to the area. Most RUS-financed systems have their loan rates capped at 7%, although there are three interest rate levels: (1) direct loans for distressed areas, (2) Treasury rate loans, and (3) municipal rate loans. Borrowers must generally obtain approximately half their capital needs from the private sector. RUS also makes direct loans through the Federal Financing Bank, National Bank for Cooperatives, and National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Cooperation. The interest rate on loans by the Federal Financing Bank is based on the Treasury rate plus 1/8%. Because of a very low default rate, the FFB loan guarantee program has a zero subsidy cost. Most loans are made for 35 years and are secured by the borrower's electric system assets. The FFB loans account for over 90% of the loans made under the RUS electrification account.

Statutory Authority: Section 305, Rural Electrification Act of 1936; 7 U.S.C. 904, 935.

Financing: Three loan levels: Hardship loans are made to applicants whose consumers fall below average per capita and household income thresholds. Municipal rate loans are based on interest rates available in the municipal bond market. Borrowers are required to seek supplemental financing for 30% of their capital requirements. Treasury rate loans are based on rates established daily by the U.S. Treasury.

Eligibility Criteria: Electricity producers and transmitters serving rural populations.

Funding: Enacted loan authorization levels for Federal Finance Bank loans: FY2005: $4.32 billion; FY2006: $5.39 billion; FY2007: $5.39 billion; FY2008: $7.1 billion; FY2009: $6.6 billion; FY2010: $7.1 billion; FY2011: $7.1 billion; FY2012: $7.0 billion; FY2013: $7.1 billion; FY2014: $5.5 billion; FY2015: $5.0 billion; FY2016: $5.5 billion. Subsidies (budget authority) for FY2005: $5.0 million; FY2006: $6.1 million; FY2007: $3.6 million; FY2008: $119,000; FY2009: $0; FY2010: $0; FY2011: $0; FY2012: $0; FY2013: $0; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $0.

There is also a guaranteed underwriting program that has had a $750 million loan authorization for FY2016. No subsidy (budget authority) is required for the program.

Telecommunications Loans

This program makes loans for infrastructure improvement and expansion to furnish and improve telephone service, including a variety of related telecommunications purposes such as broadband service in rural areas. RUS lends directly to rural telecommunication systems and guarantees loans made by other lenders.

Statutory Authority: Rural Electrification Act of 1936; 7 U.S.C. 922.

Financing: Direct loans for construction, expansion, and operation of telecommunication lines and facilities or systems.

Eligibility Criteria: Three loan levels: Hardship loans are made to applicants whose consumers fall below average per capita and household income thresholds. Municipal rate loans are based on interest rates available in the municipal bond market. Treasury rate loans are based on rates established daily by the U.S. Treasury. Direct loans are made through the Federal Financing Bank.

Funding: Enacted loan authorization levels for Treasury rate direct loans: FY2005: $518.0 million; FY2006: $689.8 million; FY2007: $689.8 million; FY2008: $685.2 million; FY2009: $690.0 million; FY2010: $690.0 million; FY2011: $690.0 million; FY2012: $690.0 million; FY2013: $690.0 million; FY2014: $690.0 million; FY2015: $690.0 million; FY2016: $690.0 million.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants

This program provides financial assistance to rural community facilities (e.g., schools, libraries, hospitals, and medical centers). The Telecommunications Act of 1996 targeted rural areas because of the difficulties they have in providing high-quality education and medical services. This program helps rural schools and hospitals obtain and use advanced telecommunications for health and educational services.

Statutory Authority: Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990; 7 U.S.C. 950 aaa-2 et seq.

Financing: Competitive grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Funds are made available to schools, hospitals, and libraries.

Funding: Grant funding for FY2005: $34.7 million; FY2006: $29.7 million; FY2007: $29.7 million; FY2008: $34.7 million; FY2009: $34.7 million; FY2010: $37.7 million; FY2011: $32.4 million; FY2012: $21.0 million; FY2013: $17.5 million; FY2014: $24.3 million; FY2015: $22.0 million; FY2016: $22.0 million.

Rural Telephone Bank

The Rural Telephone Bank (RTB) was designed to ensure rural telephone systems' access to private sources of capital by establishing a supplemental credit mechanism to which borrower systems may turn for all or part of their future capital requirements. The capital structure of the Telephone Bank consists of three classes of stock: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A stock was issued to the Telephone Bank in exchange for an appropriation of $600 million of capital. This provided the Telephone Bank with its initial "seed" money to begin its lending operations. Through sales of Class A stock, the RTB is now privatized. Final liquidation payments were made to Class A and B shareholders at the time of liquidation on November 13, 2007.

Statutory Authority: Rural Electrification Act of 1936; 7 U.S.C. 941, et seq.

Financing: Interest rates depend on the financial condition of the borrower system and the costs of providing service to rural subscribers. Most rural systems are eligible for loans at a hardship rate of 5%.

Eligibility Criteria: Utilities serving rural communities.

Funding: Loan authorization level FY2005: $175.0 million; FY2006: $0; FY2007 (est.): $0. Loan subsidies (budget authority) for FY2005: $0 million; FY2006: $0; FY2007: $0; FY2008: $0; FY2009: $0; FY2010: $0; FY2011: $0; FY2012: $0; FY2013: $0; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $0.

Broadband Loans and Grants

New telecommunication technologies will increasingly rely on infrastructure that can carry signals more complex than simple voice and at significantly faster speeds. Rural areas are currently at a disadvantage in gaining access to these newer technologies, in part, because the costs per user are higher than in more urbanized areas. RUS provides loans and grants to support acquisition/construction of broadband facilities in under-served rural areas.

Statutory Authority: Rural Electrification Act of 1936; 7 U.S.C. 922.

Financing: Interest rates on loans depend on the financial condition of the borrower system and the costs of providing service to rural subscribers. There are three interest rate levels: hardship, Treasury, and municipal. Treasury loans may be supplemented by loans from the Rural Telephone Bank. Most rural systems are eligible for loans at a hardship rate of 4%.

Eligibility Criteria: The "community-oriented connectivity" approach will target rural, economically challenged communities and offer a means for the deployment of broadband transmission services to rural schools, libraries, education centers, health care providers, law enforcement agencies, and public safety organizations, as well as residents and businesses. Community eligibility requirements for funding through the Community Connect Broadband Grant Program include areas with (1) 20,000 or fewer residents; (2) no prior access to a broadband transmission service; and (3) a minimum matching contribution equal to 15% of the grant amount awarded. New rules promulgated in May 2013 prioritize persistent poverty counties, communities experiencing population declines, and the most rural areas.

Funding: Loan authorization levels for FY2005: $331.1 million; FY2006: $495 million; FY2007: $495 million; FY2008: $297 million; FY2009: $400.5 million; FY2010: $400.0 million; FY2011: $400.0 million; FY2012: $212.0 million; FY2013: $39.1 million; FY2014: $34.5 million; FY2015: $24.1 million; FY2016: $20.5 million. Broadband telecommunication grants for FY2005: $32.8 million; FY2006: $8.9 million; FY2007: $8.9 million; FY2008: $13.4 million; FY2009: $13.6 million; FY2010: $17.9 million; FY2011: $13.4 million; FY2012: $10.4 million; FY2013: $9.6 million; FY2014: $10.4 million; FY2015: $104 million; FY2016: $10.4 million.

Access to Broadband Telecommunications Services in Rural Areas

This program provides direct loans and loan guarantees to construct, improve, and acquire facilities and equipment to provide broadband service to rural areas with less than 20,000 residents. Because of difficulties in implementing the program, no funding was provided after 2003 until the program could be restructured. The program was modified in the 2008 farm bill and again in the 2014 farm bill. In the 2014 farm bill, significant changes were made to develop criteria to prioritize loans and to provide a searchable database of broadband applicants, the areas to be served, and the status of the application, among other changes and conditions of assistance. The 2014 amendment also requires entities receiving support from USDA to file a semiannual report on capacity enhancements for medical and educational facilities and the number of residences and businesses served. The Rural Electrification Act was also amended in the 2014 farm bill to establish a Rural Gigabit Network Pilot Program. The provision authorizes $10 million for each year FY2014-2018 for the pilot program. No funds have been appropriated for the program.

Statutory Authority: Section 6103, Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( P.L. 107-171 ) amends Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb). Program was amended and reauthorized in the 2008 farm bill (Section 6110, P.L. 110-246 ).

Financing: Direct and guaranteed loans. For direct loans interest rate is capped at 4%.

Eligibility Criteria : Rural areas of less than 20,000 population and outside of an urban/metro commuting area.

Funding : Mandatory funding was authorized at $20 million per year, FY2002-FY2005, and $10 million in FY2006 and FY2007. Funding of $20 million was provided in FY2003. Appropriators blocked funding for the program in FY2004-FY2007. For FY2008-FY2012, $25 million annually was authorized.

Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account

The Rural Water and Waste Disposal Account, administered by RUS, supports construction and improvements to rural community water systems unable to get reasonable credit in the private market. Funding for the loan program is allocated to state rural development offices by formula where state directors set priorities particular to their state's rural needs.

The Water and Waste loan and grant programs assist eligible applicants in rural areas and cities and towns of up to 10,000 residents. Drinking water, sanitary sewerage, solid waste disposal, and storm drainage facilities may be financed with direct and guaranteed loans and grants. Applications originate with state rural development offices.

Water and Waste Disposal Direct and Guaranteed Loans

Rural water and waste water disposal loans and grants are administered by USDA's Rural Utilities Service. Loans are made to public bodies, organizations operated on a not-for-profit basis, and Indian tribes on federal and state reservations for development of storage, treatment, purification, or distribution of water or for collection, treatment, and disposal of waste in rural areas. Loans are repayable in not more than 40 years, or the useful life of the facility, whichever is less.

Statutory Authority: Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1926.

Financing: Direct loans carry interest rates not in excess of the current market yield for comparable term municipal obligations. The interest rate on loans cannot exceed 5% (they are currently being made at 4.5%) for those areas where the (1) median household income of the service area falls below the higher of 80% of the statewide non-metro median household income or the poverty level; and (2) the project is needed to meet applicable health or sanitary standards. The intermediate rate, which is halfway between the poverty rate and the market rate, with a ceiling of 7%, applies to those projects that do not meet the requirements for the poverty rate but are located in areas where the median household income does not exceed 100% of the statewide non-metro median household income. Guaranteed loans are made to the same groups and for similar purposes except that loans are guaranteed by RUS for 80% of the loan amount or, in exceptional circumstances, 90% of the loan amount. The interest rate is negotiated between borrower and lender.

Eligibility Criteria: A rural area may include an area in any city or town that has a population of not more than 10,000 residents. Applicants must be unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere at reasonable rates to finance actual needs.

Funding: Loan authorization level for direct loans in FY2005: $921.4 million; FY2006: $1.06 billion; FY2007: $990.0 million; FY2008: $1.3 billion; FY2009: $894.5 million; FY2010: $1.0 billion; FY2011: $898.3 million; FY2012: $730.7 million; FY2013: $923.7 million; FY2014: $1.2 billion; FY2015: $1.2 billion; FY2016: $1.2 billion. Loan subsidies for direct loans in FY2005: $82.9 million; FY2006: $73.4 million; FY2007: $98.5 million; FY2008: $69.6 million; FY2009: $0; FY2010: $77.1 million; FY2011: $76.9 million; FY2012: $70.0 million; FY2013: $74.5 million; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $31.2 million. Loan authorization levels for guaranteed loans in FY2005: $2.9 million; FY2006: $75.0 million; FY2007: $75.0 million; FY2008: $75 million; FY2009: $75.0 million; FY2010: $75.0 million; FY2011: $75.0 million; FY2012: $63.0 million; FY2013: $56.6 million; FY2014: $50.0 million; FY2015: $50.0 million; FY2016: $50.0 million. Loan subsidy levels for loan guarantees for FY2005-FY2011 were $0; FY2012: $1.0 million; FY2013: $600,000; FY2014: $355,000; FY2015: $295,000; FY2016: $275,000.

Water and Waste Disposal Grants

Grants are made to public, quasi-public, and nonprofit associations as in the loan program. Grants are directed to projects serving the most financially needy communities. Grants are made to communities that have a median household income that falls below the higher of the poverty level or 100% of the state's non-metro household income. Grant amounts provide higher funding levels for projects in communities that have lower income levels, but they may not exceed 75% of the eligible development costs of the project. In addition, between 1% and 3% of the total appropriation each year for water and waste water is available for technical assistance and training to assist communities in identifying and evaluating alternative solutions to problems related to water and waste disposal, preparing applications, and improving operation and maintenance practices at existing facilities.

Statutory Authority: Section 306(a)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1926.

Financing: Grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Grants are made only if needed to reduce user charges to a reasonable level. For a grant of up to 70% of eligible costs, service area median household income must be below the poverty level or below 80% of the state non-metropolitan median household income, whichever is higher.

Funding: FY2005: $507.5 million (includes hurricane emergency supplemental funding); FY2006: $508.7 million (includes hurricane emergency supplemental funding); FY2007: $437.7 million; FY2008: $464.2 million; FY2009: $482.1 million; FY2010: $469.2 million; FY2011: $331.7 million; FY2012: $327.1 million; FY2013: $397.0 million; FY2014: $345.5 million; FY2015: $347.1 million; FY2016: $364.4 million.

Solid Waste Management Grants

Grants made to local and regional governments and to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training for the purposes of reducing or eliminating pollution of water resources and improving management of solid waste facilities.

Statutory Authority: Section 310B(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1932(b).

Financing: Grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Assistance is available in rural areas and towns with a population of 10,000 or less.

Funding: FY2005: $3.5 million; FY2006: $3.5 million; FY2007: $3.5 million; FY2008: $3.4 million; FY2009: $3.5 million; FY2010: $3.4 million; FY2011: $3.4 million; FY2012: $3.4 million; FY2103: $3.1 million; FY2014: 4.0 million; FY2015: $4.0 million; FY2016: $4.0 million.

Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants

The program assists rural communities that have had a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water. Grants can be made in rural areas and cities or towns with a population not in excess of 10,000 and a median household income not more than 100% of a state's non-metropolitan median household income. Grants may be made for 100% of project costs. The maximum grant is $500,000 when a significant decline in quantity or quality of water occurred within two years, or $75,000 to make emergency repairs and replacement of facilities on existing systems.

Statutory Authority: Sections 306A and 306B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(b).

Financing: Grants.

Eligibility Criteria: For declared emergencies and disasters and for communities facing actual or immanent drinking water shortages.

Funding: The 2002 farm bill ( P.L. 107-171 ) sets aside not less than 3% nor more than 5% of the total appropriated water and waste water funds for emergency community water assistance. Authorized $35 million each year in additional funding for the program, FY2005-FY2007. For FY2005: $10.7 million; FY2006: $14.1 million; FY2007: $13.9 million; FY2008: $6.8 million; FY2009: $13.0 million; FY2010: $0; FY2011: $0; FY2012: $0; FY2013: $3.1 million; FY2014: $4.0 million; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $0.

Individual Well Water System Grants

This program provides funding for nonprofit organizations to finance the construction and refurbishing of household water well systems in rural areas for individuals with low or moderate incomes.

Statutory Authority: Section 6012 of the 2002 farm bill ( P.L. 107-171 ) amends Section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is (7 U.S.C.1926d). Reauthorized in Section 6010 of the 2008 farm bill ( P.L. 110-246 ).

Financing : Grants.

Eligibility Criteria : Priority to nonprofit organizations with demonstrated expertise in providing well-water systems.

Funding : The 2002 farm bill ( P.L. 107-171 ) authorized funding of $10 million annually, FY2002-FY2007. FY2005: $1.9 million; FY2006: $990,000; FY2007: $990,000; FY2008: $993,000; FY2009: $993,000; FY2010: $993,000; FY2011: $993,000; FY2012: $993,000; FY2013: $917,000; FY2014: $993,000; FY2015: $993,000; FY2016: $993,000.

Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grants

A percentage of the Water and Wastewater Grant Program is available each year to provide technical assistance for rural communities with a population of 10,000 or less. Grant funds may be used to assist communities and rural areas in identifying and evaluating solutions to water or wastewater problems, improving facility operation and maintenance activities, or preparing funding applications for water or wastewater treatment facility construction projects.

Statutory Authority: Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(14).

Financing: Grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Private, nonprofit organizations that have been granted tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service may be eligible for grant funds provided they can demonstrate the ability, background, experience, legal authority, and actual capacity to provide technical assistance/training on a regional basis to small, rural communities.

Funding: Formula funding based on the Water and Waste Water Grant appropriation for the current fiscal year. FY2005: $18.2 million; FY2006: $18.2 million; FY2007: $16.2 million; FY2008: 17.5 million; FY2009: $18.4 million; FY2010: $19.0 million; FY2011: $19.1 million; FY2012: $19.0 million; FY2013: $19.0 million; FY2014: $19.0 million; FY2015: $19.0 million; FY2016: $20.0 million.

Rural Water Circuit Rider Program

The program provides on-site technical assistance for the operation of rural water systems. Objective is to bring small public water systems into compliance with state and national environmental regulations. The program complements RUS loan supervision responsibilities. RUS contracts with the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) to provide this service in each state.

Statutory Authority: Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(22).

Financing : RUS has a management contract with National Rural Water Association which contracts with state water associations. State water associations operate the program.

Eligibility Criteria: Public water and waste water systems serving rural communities of 10,000 or less. Many states have further prioritized funding for very small communities.

Funding : Circuit rider staff positions are funded out of staffing authorizations for RUS. FY2005: $13.5; FY2006: $13.7; FY2007: $9.5 million; FY2008: $13.6 million; FY2009: $14.0 million; FY2010: $14.6 million; FY2011: $14.7 million; FY2012: $15.0 million; FY2013: $15.0 million; FY2014: $15.0 million; FY2015: $15.9 million; FY2016: $16.4 million.

High Energy Cost Grants

The purpose of this grant program is to provide financial assistance for a broad range of energy facilities, equipment, and related activities to offset the impacts of extremely high residential energy costs in eligible communities. Eligible facilities include on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems and implementation of cost-effective demand side management and energy conservation programs that benefit eligible communities. Most of the funding from this program has historically gone to Alaska Native Villages and some areas of Hawaii.

Statutory Authority: Rural Electrification Act of 1936; 7 U.S.C. 918(a).

Financing: Competitive grants. No cost sharing or matching funds are required as a condition of eligibility under this grant program. However, RUS will consider other financial resources available to the grantee and any voluntary commitment of matching funds or other contributions in assessing the grantee's capacity to carry out the grant program successfully and will award additional evaluation points to proposals that include such contributions. As a further condition of each grant, Section 19(b)(2) of the RE act requires that planning and administrative expenses may not exceed 4% of the grant funds.

Eligibility Criteria: Areas with high energy costs are those where the average residential expenditure for home energy is 275% of the national average.

Funding: For FY2005: $34.8 million; FY2006: $27.8 million; FY2007: $27.8 million; FY2008: $21.3 million; FY2009: $17.5 million; FY2010: $17.5 million; FY2011: $12.0 million; FY2012: $9.5 million; FY2013: $9.2 million; FY2014: $10.0 million; FY2015: $10.0 million; FY2016: $10.0 million.

Other USDA Rural Development Programs

Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones (REAP)

This was initially a pilot program for rural revitalization. The program assists rural communities suffering from out-migration, economic crises, and geographic isolation. Designated REAP zones receive modest technical and financial assistance from USDA as well as other federal agencies. REAP zones also receive special consideration and preferences under regular Rural Development loan and grant programs. REAP zones engage in community-based, long-term planning and regularly report on their progress using OCD's performance and benchmark reporting system.

In 1995, two zones in North Dakota were designated to participate in the REAP initiative. Subsequently, two areas in upstate New York were added in 1999. In 2000, a rural area in Vermont was designated as the fifth REAP zone.

The program was reauthorized in the 2014 farm bill ( P.L. 113-79 ).

Statutory Authority: Presidential memorandum dated August 5, 1993; variously dated memoranda of agreement; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2001 ( P.L. 106-387 ). Reauthorized in the 2014 farm bill (Section 6016, P.L. 113-79 ; 7 U.S.C. 1932(j)).

Financing : Grants.

Eligibility Criteria: Designation by the Secretary as a REAP zone.

Funding: Appropriators provide targeted funding to REAP zones through various RHS, RBS, and RUS accounts.

National Rural Development Partnership

The National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP) was authorized by the 2002 farm bill. The NRDP coordinates the efforts of public, private, and nonprofit groups interested in rural development issues. State rural development councils, which exist in 36 states, are the major operative agents within the partnership. The partnership also includes the National Partnership Office, which is housed in USDA, and a National Rural Development Council. The latter consists of senior program managers from 40 federal agencies involved with rural development activities and national representatives of public interest and private sector organizations.

Statutory Authority: Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Section 6201). Program was reauthorized in the 2008 farm bill (Section 6019, P.L. 110-246 ).

Financing : State rural development offices provide matching funding to support partnership activities with State Rural Development Partnership Councils.

Eligibility Criteria: State Rural Development Partnership Councils are composed of broadly representative public and private organizations.

Funding : The 2002 farm bill ( P.L. 107-171 ) authorized $10 million in each fiscal year FY2003-FY2007. No appropriations provided for FY2003-FY2007, although the appropriators have encouraged the Secretary to support the NRDP through existing program funding. The program was reauthorized in the 2014 farm bill ( P.L. 113-79 ).

Regional Development Commissions

The 2008 farm bill authorized the establishment of three new regional economic development authorities: the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and the Northern Border Regional Commission. Only the Northern Borders Commission has had an executive director appointed. The commissions are under the jurisdiction of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The commissions will undertake comprehensive infrastructure development planning for their respective regions. Commissions may make grants to states and local governments to develop basic public infrastructure, support alternative energy development, support telecommunications, and assist economically depressed areas of the regions. Funding was authorized at $30 million annually (FY2008-FY2012) for each commission. Regulatory rules for the implementation of the commissions have not yet been published, although some preliminary administrative functions have begun in the Northern Border Regional Authority and the Southeast Crescent Regional Authority. The regional commissions include the following counties:

Southeast Crescent Regional Commission All counties of the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida not already served by the Appalachian Regional Commission or the Delta Regional Authority. Southwest Border Regional Commission Arizona: The counties of Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma. California: The counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura. New Mexico: The counties of Catron, Chaves, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, Sierra, and Socorro. Texas: The counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bee, Bexar, Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Coke, Concho, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Gillespie, Glasscock, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Irion, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Loving, Mason, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Menard, Midland, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, San Patricio, Shleicher, Sutton, Starr, Sterling, Terrell, Tom Green Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Webb, Willacy, Wilson, Winkler, Zapata, and Zavala. Northern Border Regional Commission Maine: The counties of Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington. New Hampshire: The counties of Carroll, Coos, Grafton, and Sullivan. New York: The counties of Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Oswego, Seneca, and St. Lawrence. Vermont: The counties of Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, and Orleans.

Statutory Authority: Subtitle V of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 ( P.L. 110-246 ).

Financing : Commissions make economic development and infrastructure grants to state, local, tribal, profit, and nonprofit entities to carry out the economic planning and development programs established by the respective commissions. Matching equity funding is required.

Eligibility Criteria: Applications to a commission for a grant or other assistance for a project are made through, and evaluated for approval by, the state-appointed member of the commission representing the applicant.

Funding : The 2008 farm bill ( P.L. 110-246 ) authorized $30 million in each fiscal year FY2008-FY2012. In FY2010, the Northern Border Regional Commission and the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission received $1.5 million and $250,000, respectively, under Energy and Water Appropriations.