USDA Rural Development--News and Information

Committed to the future of rural communities

News and Information: News Releases for 2009

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

July 2009

July 2, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announces Availability of Disaster Funding for USDA Rural Development Programs News Release
July 1, 2009 - Obama Administration Launches Initiative to Bring Broadband, Jobs to More Americans
News Release | Notice of Funds Availability | BroadbandUSA Website

June 2009

June 30, 2009 - Obama Administration Continues Naming State Directors for Rural Development News Release
June 30, 2009 - Obama Administration Begins Naming State Directors for Rural Development
News Release
June 26, 2009 - Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Provides Notice of Buy American Limited Waiver Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Public Notice
June 26, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announces $6.9 Million in Economic Development Funding
News Release
June 24, 2009 - USDA Approves Guaranteed Loan for Commercial - Scale Biodiesel Production Plant News Release
June 23, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Today Announced the Selection of Recipients for $6.45 Million in Grants to Spur Economic Development and Revitalization in Rural Communities.
News Release
une 17, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announced the Selection of More than $123 Million in Water and Environmental Projects in 24 States News Release | Project List
June 10, 2009 – Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager today announced the selection of 49 rural businesses, communities and rural public entities to receive $4.7 million to assist in disaster relief efforts
News Release
June 9, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Names Tammye Trevino as Administrator for Housing and Community Facilities Programs at Rural Development
News Release
June 9, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announces Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Recipients
News Release
June 8, 2009 -- USDA Meets President Obama's 30-Day BioFuels Directive to Meet Country's Energy Needs News Release
June 10, 2009 – Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager today announced the selection of 49 rural businesses, communities and rural public entities to receive $4.7 million to assist in disaster relief efforts
News Release
June 1, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Kicks Off National Homeownership Month At Rural Housing Roundtable
News Release

May 2009

May 28, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Names Judith Canales as Administrator for Business and Cooperative Programs at Rural Development in USDA News Release
May 28, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces $143 Million for Rural Water Projects News Release | Project List
May 20, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is accepting applications for grants to help low- and very-low-income rural residents repair their homes. News Release
May 18, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces $60 Million for Rural Community Facilities Projects News Release
May 6, 2009 – USDA Selects Recipients for $15 Million in Economic Development Loans and Grants. News Release
May 6, 2009 – USDA Accepting Applications Through May 31 for Household Water Well Grants. News Release

April 2009

April 29, 200 – 9 USDA is accepting applications for Cooperative Development Center Grants through close of business June 29, 2009. News Release
April 28, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces $615.8 Million for Rural Water Projects News Release
April 21, 2009 – USDA Celebrates Earth Day by Awarding $144.3 million for Rural Infrastructure Projects News Release
April 17, 2009 – USDA Annouces $12.7 million in Economic Development Funding
News Release
April 10, 2009 – Agricultural Secretary Vilsack names Cheryl Cook as Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development News Release
April 8, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has helped produce a comprehensive new study and database assessing the national economic impact of cooperatives. News Release
April 6, 2009 – Rural Development's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Programs Web Page
April 1, 2009 – Vice President Joe Biden and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announce Recovery Act Funding for Single Family Housing. News Release

March 2009

March 25, 2009 – President Barack Obama has announced his intention to nominate Jonathan S. Adelstein to be Administrator of USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service. News Release
March 13, 2009 – President Barack Obama today announced his intention to nominate Dallas P. Tonsager to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.
News Release
March 12, 2009 – USDA Rural Development, the National Telecommunications Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission will hold public roundtables March 17, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nev., and March 18, 2009, in Flagstaff, Ariz., on the Broadband Initiative under the American Recovery and Reinvestment of Act of 2009. Federal Register Notice | Round Table Flyer
March 12, 2009 – USDA Awards $271 Million In Electric Loans To Bolster Infrastructure, Funds Will Benefit 56,006 Rural Customers in 15 States. Funds Will Benefit 56,006 Rural Customers in 15 States. News Release
March 11, 2009 – Transcripts and Archived Video of the Public Broadband Meeting March 10, 2009
March 11, 2009 – Vilsack Announces Energy Audit Applications Now Being Accepted

February 2009

February 6, 2009 – USDA Awards $356 Million in Electric Loans

January 2009

January 27, 2009 – Vilsack Announces Rural Economic Development Loan And Grant Recipients
January 15, 2009 – $300 Million Loan for the First Commercial Scale Carbon Sequestration Project at an Existing Coal-Fired Power Plant
January 14, 2009 – $267 Million USDA RD Broadband Loan Finalized
January 14, 2009 – USDA RD Honors Woodrow Martin of LA with National Community Champion Award
January 13, 2009 – USDA RD To Seek Input on Micro Entrepreneur Assistance and Expanded Job Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities
Jan 12, 2009 – USDA is accepting applications for $45.8 million in loans and grants to support rural communities and spur economic development through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program. News Release
January 9, 2009 – USDA RD Invites Applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program
January 9, 2009 – USDA RD Invites Applications for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants

Go back to the top

Information for the Media

Audio Public Service Announcements
:60 Seconds "Progress" PSA* / Transcript (PDF)
:50-10 Seconds "Progress" PSA / Transcript (PDF)
:60 Seconds "Where Am I?" PSA / Transcript (PDF)
:50-10 Seconds "Where Am I?" PSA / Transcript (PDF)

Four-Color Public Service Announcements

"Ted and Ann" PSA -- "Ann’s treatment meant travel to a modern medical center. Because of USDA Rural Development,
it was a 10-minute drive." / Customizable Version (PDF)
"Community Health" PSA -- "There are 973 people in this town. With USDA Rural Development, advanced healthcare
is there for all of them." / Customizable Version (PDF)
"Hal" PSA -- "With the right tools, Hal can work miracles. At USDA Rural Development, we understand completely." / En Español (PDF)
"Derek" PSA -- "College gave Derek a reason to leave his hometown. USDA Rural Development is giving him a reason to come back." / En Español (PDF)
"Dale" PSA -- "Dale’s family has lived here for three generations. USDA Rural Development is helping them make it four." / En Español (PDF)
"Emily" PSA -- "Emily inherited her father’s smile. Thanks to USDA Rural Development, she can inherit the family business." / En Español (PDF)

Black and White Public Service Announcements

* Audio presentations require installation of a media player program like the Real Player or Windows Media Player.

News Releases: 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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