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Community Facilities Programs

Affordable housing is not the only pressing need for residents of many rural communities.  They also need better health care, public safety and public services.  Many rural places lack these essential services.  This shortage not only affects the quality of life for community residents, but also makes it more difficult to attract and retain businesses and essential services.

USDA Rural Development has made important contributions to rural communities by providing loans and grants for essential community facilities through its Community Programs.  These loans and grants help rural communities remain economically viable and enable rural business to provide jobs and services to area residents.

USDA Rural Development provides technical and advisory assistance to applicants through all stages of project development.

Community Facilities Direct Loan Program - USDA Rural Development Community Facilities can make direct loans to applicants who are unable to obtain commercial credit in order to develop essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population.

Loans are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, and special-purpose districts, as well as to non-profit corporations and tribal governments.

Loan funds may be used to construct, enlarge, or improve community facilities for health care, public safety, and public services.

This can include costs to acquire land needed for a facility, pay necessary professional fees, and purchase equipment required for its operation.

Refinancing existing debts may be considered an eligible direct loan purpose.  The debt being refinanced must be a secondary part of the loan, associated with the project facility, and the applicant's creditors are unwilling to extend or modify terms in order for the new loan to be feasible.
 

Community Recreation Center $500,000 Community Facility Direct Loan, Department of Hawaii Home Lands, Molokai Hawaii
 
Community Facilities Guarantee Loan Program - USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Community Facility loans and guarantees are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, and special-purpose districts, as well as to non-profit corporation and tribal governments.
Applicants must have the legal authority to borrow and repay loans, to pledge security for loans and to construct, operate, and maintain the facilities.

They must also be financially sound and able to organize and manage the facilities effectively.  Up to 90 percent of a Community Facilities loan can be guaranteed for rural communities.

 

 

 

 

Seagull Schools, Inc., $717,738 Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan
 Kapolei-Oahu, HI
 

Community Facilities Grant Program-


Priority for these funds was given to special initiate areas to support community development, childcare facilities linked with the welfare-to-work program, federally designated tribes, and Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities. 

In most cases, funding was part of an overall financial package that was leveraged with other contributions from USDA Rural Development to stretch grant funds to reach many more rural communities.

 

 
$71,400 Community Facility Grant &
$430,800 Community Facility Direct Loan
Kosrae State Government
Department  of Health
Federated States of Micronesia

First Responder Initiative- A new USDA First Responder Initiative, this initiative supports rural emergency responder efforts by prioritizing the financing for needed equipment and services.

The First Responder Initiative commits a minimum of one dollar for every five dollars of fiscal year community facility funds to first responder type requests.

USDA Rural Development provides financing of a variety of community facilities, such as:  fire and rescue facilities and equipment, police and emergency vehicles and services and other community focused facilities and services.

The initiative prioritizes funding of at least $100 million to specifically strengthen the ability of rural communities to respond to local emergencies and situations affecting public safety.

USDA Rural Development is committed to addressing essential community needs that assist with public safety, education, health care, cultural, transportation, and other public needs.


 

Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii  96720,
Tel:  (808) 933-8380, FAX:  (808) 933-8327,  TDD:  (808) 933-8321 

Committed to the future of rural communities

 Rural Development is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Provider, and Employer. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D. C.  20250-9410