USDA Rural Development--2002 Farm Bill News and Updates

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2002 Farm Bill: News and Updates

News and Updates

New Programs
Section-By-Section Summary
General Information
Rural Development 2002 Farm
Bill Home Page

USDA 2002 Farm Bill Site

July 18, 2005: Federal Register Notice:--"Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant, Guaranteed Loan and Direct Loan Program; Final Rule" PDF / TEXT
July 15, 2005: Guaranteed Loan Funds Available for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects
May 12, 2005: USDA Holds Broadband Awareness Workshop in Washington, DC (PDF)
March 28, 2005: Johanns Announces Availability of $22.8 Million for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects
March 28, 2005: Federal Register Notice:--"Notice Inviting Applications for the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant Program" PDF / TEXT
March 11, 2005: USDA Encourages Private Investment in Expansion of Access to High-Speed Internet Technology in Rural America
February 24, 2005: USDA Holds Broadband Awareness Workshop in Harrisonburg, Va.
December 21, 2004: USDA Rural Development and EPA Sign Agreement to Advance Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Rural Areas
November 15, 2004: Federal Register Notice:--"Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant, Guaranteed Loan, and Direct Loan Program; Proposed rule: Extension of Comment Period" PDF / TEXT
October 29, 2004, New Program Launched: Guarantees for Bonds and Notes Issued for Electrification or Telephone Purposes
October 29, 2004: New Funding Source Available for Rural Economic Development
October 29, 2004: Federal Register Notice:--"Guarantees for Bonds and Notes Issued for Electrification or Telephone Purposes" PDF / TEXT
October 6, 2004: USDA Announces $95.2 Million in Loans to Increase Rural Access to Hi-Speed Internet Technology
October 5, 2004: USDA Rural Development Seeks Public Comment on Renewable Energy Program
October 5, 2004: Federal Register Notice:--"Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant, Guaranteed Loan and Direct Loan Program Proposed Rule" PDF / TEXT
September 15, 2004: Veneman Announces $22.8 Million to Support Renewable Energy Initiatives in 26 States / Recipients List
August 19, 2004: USDA Announces $9.506 Million Broadband Loan to North-State Telephone Company, located in Mt. Vernon, Oregon
August 18, 2004: USDA Announces $6.375 Million Broadband Loan to Progressive Telephone Cooperative, Inc. in Rentz, Georgia
August 13, 2004: USDA Announces $106 Million Broadband Loan to Cinergy, Indiana
August 12, 2004: USDA Announces $1.198 Million in Broadband Loan to Radcliffe Telephone Company in Iowa
July 26, 2004: USDA Awards $18 Million in Broadband Loans to Bring High-Speed Service to Rural Areas
June 17, 2004: USDA Holds Workshops on How To Apply For Broadband Loans / Workshops Brochure (PDF)
June 16, 2004: Rural Business Investment Program Fact Sheet PDF / TEXT
June 15, 2004: Federal Register Notice--"Announcement of Value-Added Producer Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels" PDF / TEXT
June 9, 2004: Veneman Announces the Availability of $6.5 Million in Grants to Improve Economic Conditions in Rural Areas
June 9, 2004: Federal Register Notice--"Announcing Rural Cooperative Development Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels" PDF / TEXT
June 8, 2004: Veneman Announces the Availability of $13.2 Million in Grants to Expand Value-Added Agricultural Business Ventures
June 8, 2004: Federal Register Notice--"Announcement of Competitive Application Round for the Rural Business Investment Program" PDF / TEXT
June 8, 2004: Federal Register Notice--"Rural Business Investment Program Interim Rule; Announcement of Competitive Application Round for the Rural Business Investment Program" PDF / TEXT
June 3, 2004: USDA Announces $47 Million in Loans to Support Rural Access to High-Speed Internet Technology
June 2, 2004: Bush Administration Announces Push to Create Rural Jobs / En Español
May 20, 2004: Veneman Notes Second Anniversary of Farm Bill Signing
May 17, 2004: Federal Register Notice:--"Notice of Funds Availability Inviting Applications for the Specific Risk Materials and Certain Cattle Renewable Energy Guaranteed Loan Pilot Program" PDF / TEXT
May 17, 2004: USDA Establishes a Pilot Project for Renewable Energy
May 17, 2004: Correction to Federal Register Notice:--"Notice of Funds Availability Inviting Applications for the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant Program" PDF / TEXT
May 5, 2004: Federal Register Notice:--"Notice of Funds Availability Inviting Applications for the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant Program" PDF / TEXT
May 4, 2004: Veneman Announces $22.8 Million in Grants for Renewable Energy Initiatives
May 4, 2004: USDA Announces $190 Million In Loans To Support Rural Access To High-Speed Internet Technology / Recipients List
March 29, 2004: Federal Register Notice:--Notice of Funds Availability for the Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Program: PDF / TXT
October 31, 2003: Bush Administration Unveils New Job Creation Effort for Rural America
October 1, 2003: Remarks by Under Secretary Dorr at the Renewable Fuels Association Board Meeting (PDF)*
September 26, 2003: USDA Awards $10 Million for Agricultural Innovation Centers
September 11, 2003: Federal Register Notice: "Invitation to Apply for Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program Grants" PDF / TEXT
September 4, 2003: Federal Register Notice: "Notice Inviting Applications for the Value-Added Producer Grants Program" PDF / TEXT
August 25, 2003: USDA Announces Over $21 Million to Support Rural Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Efforts
July 30, 2003: Energy Remarks by Under Secretary Dorr at the National Biodiesel Board Annual Meeting (PDF)
June 13, 2003: Federal Register Notice: "Value-Added Producer Grants and Agriculture Innovation Centers Proposed Rule" PDF / TEXT
May 29, 2003: Dorr Presents Technology Infrastructure Funding at Rural Utah Business Technology Conference
May 20, 2003: Federal Register Notice: "Notice Inviting Applications for a University Value-Added Research Grant" PDF / TEXT
May 19, 2003: USDA Extends Deadline for $23 Million in Renewable Energy Grants
May 19, 2003: Federal Register Notice:--"Notice of Funds Availability Inviting Applications for the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant Program" (Clarification and Deadline Extension) PDF / TEXT
May 15, 2003: Business Programs Renewable Energy Site (Technical Resources)
May 14, 2003: Veneman Thanks USDA Employees on the First Anniversary of Farm Bill Signing / Factsheet
April 8, 2003: Federal Register Notice:--"Notice of Funds Availability Inviting Applications for the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant Program" TEXT / PDF
April 7, 2003: Veneman Announces $44 Million in Grants for Renewable Energy Initiatives
April 7, 2003, New Program Launched: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program
February 20, 2003: Federal Register Notice:--"Notice Inviting Applications for Recognition as a State Rural Development Council" TEXT / PDF / More Resources
February 18, 2003: Energy Remarks by Under Secretary Dorr at the 2003 National Ethanol Conference (PDF)
February 4-26, 2003: Briefings on the 2002 Farm Bill
January 29, 2003, New Program Launched: Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees
January 15, 2003: Under Secretary Dorr's Remarks at the Farm Bill Outreach Meeting in Victoria, TX (PDF)
December 23, 2002: USDA to Hold [January 15, 2003] Briefing on Available USDA Programs
(More Information and Online Registration)
December 17, 2002: 2002 Farm Bill Forum, Salina, Kansas
December 12, 2002: Public Comments on the Rural Renewable Energy Program
December 3, 2002: Rural Renewable Energy Systems Meeting Webcast** (Real Player)
Meeting Transcript: PDF / TEXT
December 2, 2002: USDA to Hold December 12, 2002 Briefing on Available USDA Programs
November 22, 2002: USDA to Hold Public Meeting on Expanding Rural Renewable Energy Systems
Federal Register Notice: TEXT / PDF
October 22, 2002: Veneman Announces $75 Million in Grants to Spur Economic Growth and Investment in U.S. Rural Communities
(Business Programs Value-Added Grants) / (Housing Programs Rural Infrastructure Grants) / (Utilities Programs Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants)
October 18, 2002: USDA to Hold Briefing November 7, 2002 on Available USDA Programs
(More Information and Online Registration)
October 16, 2002: Farm Bill Fast Facts: HTML / PDF
August 21, 2002: Photos of Rural Development's Farm Bill 2002 Water Projects Roll Out
August 20, 2002: Veneman Announces More Than $700 Million in Economic Development Projects for Rural Communities
List of Water and Waste Disposal Projects Funded: HTML (486 Kb) / PDF (36 Kb)
August 19, 2002: Transcript of Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program Public Meeting (PDF)
August 13, 2002: Veneman Announces Over $25 Million in Rural Development Projects to Assist Iowa Communities
July 11, 2002: Federal Register Notice:--"Notice of a Public Meeting on the Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program" PDF / TEXT
July 11, 2002: USDA to Hold Public Meeting on Agricultural Innovation Center Demonstration Program
July 5, 2002: Federal Register Notice--"Solicitation of Applicants for Membership on a National Board on Rural America" PDF / TXT
(Note: The application period closed on July 19, 2002.)
July 5, 2002: Candidates Solicited for National Board on Rural America
June 27, 2002: Comments on Rural Broadband Access submitted at the Rural Broadband Access Public Meeting
June 24, 2002: Notice of Funding Availability for the Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant Program
June 20, 2002: Veneman Makes $33 Million in Grants Available to Promote Energy, Value-Added Ventures
June 12, 2002: Notice of Public Meeting on Rural Broadband Access PDF / TXT
June 6, 2002: Water and Waste Disposal Applications Pending May 13, 2002
May 21, 2002: Statement by Secretary Veneman Regarding Criticism of the Farm Bill
May 15, 2002: USDA Team Actively Working on Farm Bill Implementation
May 14, 2002: Audio/Video message from Secretary Veneman to USDA employees regarding Farm Bill implementation**
May 14, 2002: Transcript of message from Secretary Veneman to USDA employees regarding Farm Bill implementation
May 14, 2002: USDA Launches Farm Bill Implementation Website
May 13, 2002: Audio / Video of the White House signing ceremony
May 13, 2002: Transcript of the White House signing ceremony
May 13, 2002: Statement by Secretary Veneman Regarding Signing of Farm Bill

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** Streaming Audio/Video presentations require the Real Player, QuickTime Player or Windows Media Player.

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Rural Development is within the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administers rural business, cooperative, housing, utilities and community development programs.