Who we are!

Rural Development operates federal loan and grant programs designed to strengthen rural Hawaii, American Samoa and the Western Pacific businesses, finance new housing, improve existing rural housing, develop community facilities and stimulate rural employment.  Direct and/or guaranteed loans are available for housing, water and waste, rural businesses, community facilities, electric power and telecommunications.

Rural Development is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture and provides Rural Utilities Programs, Rural Housing Programs and Rural Business-Cooperative Programs.  It also contains the Office of Community of Development.  We work with many lenders, State and Federal agencies, and private sector groups in the State of Hawaii, American Samoa and the Western Pacific (includes Guam, Common Wealth of the Marianas Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, and the Marshall Islands), to help provide a starting point to address business, community and housing needs.

Mission Statement

"To increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural Americans."

Improving the Quality of Life for Rural Americans

USDA has the unique responsibility of coordinating Federal assistance to rural areas of the nation. The Rural Development mission is to help rural Americans to improve the quality of their lives.

To do this, USDA Rural Development is working in closely with the private and nonprofit sectors and with state, tribal, and local governments to fundamentally change the way government works. With this new philosophy of public partnership -- this new relationship among Government, industry, and communities -- many positive outcomes for rural Americans are happening daily.

Now and in the future, prosperity in rural America depends on ensuring that residents have a wide range of economic opportunities. Rural America's historic strengths -- agriculture and forestry -- will continue as one part of the picture.

Rural Development works to make sure that rural citizens can participate fully in the global economy -- with technical assistance and programs that help rural Americans build strong economies to improve their quality of life.