Rural Utilities Programs

Guaranteed Loans, Direct Loans and Grants are available through USDA Rural Development.  Funds are available in the form of guaranteed loans through a local lender, and direct loans and grants directly from the U.S. Treasury.

WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL LOANS AND GRANTS:  Funds are available to public bodies and nonprofit corporations to develop water and waste disposal systems, including solid waste disposal and storm drainage, in rural areas and towns with a population not in excess of 10,000.  To qualify, applicants must be unable to obtain the financing from other sources and/or their own resources at rates and terms they can afford.

CONTACT:  Applications for the above programs should be made at the applicable Area Office.  The Area Office staff will be glad to discuss services available from USDA Rural Development and explain how to prepare a written application.

DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM (DLT): This program is designed specifically to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America.  Through loans, grants, and loan and grant combinations, advanced telecommunications technologies provide enhanced learning and health care opportunities for rural residents.  The program asks applicants to define the educational or health care problems that face their communities and determine how Federal distance learning or telemedicine assistance can help.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine funds are available to an incorporated organization, partnership Indian Tribe, and tribal organization, consortium, or other legal entity, (1) which operates or will operate a school, college, university, learning center, training facility, or other educational institution or (2) which is providing or proposes to provide telemedicine service or distance learning service to other legal entities.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING GRANTS:  These grants are made to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and/or training to associations located in rural areas and to cities and towns with a population of 10,000 or less.  Assistance may be provided to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems, to improve the operation and maintenance of existing water and waste disposal facilities, and to assist associations in preparing applications for water and waste disposal facilities.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT GRANTS:  Grants are made to public and private nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and/or training to associations located in rural areas and to cities and towns with a population of 10,000 or less to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources, and to improve planning and management of solid waste facilities.  Assistance may be provided to enhance operator skills in operations and maintenance, identify threats to water resources, and reduce the solid waste stream.

For more detailed information on any of the programs listed above, visit the Rural Utilities Service web site.

       Please send comments or suggestions to:  beverly.helton@al.usda.gov