CARSON CITY, Nev., September 28, 2023 --USDA Rural Development Nevada State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad today announced USDA is funding projects to improve the economy and quality of life in rural areas that have struggled to access government resources.
USDA is providing loan and grant funding to communities in and near those participating in the Rural Partners Network (RPN). These investments will expand access to jobs and business opportunities.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda provides a historic opportunity to build our economy from the bottom up and middle out, not the top down,” Ingvoldstad said. “The Rural Partners Network is not just a new name for how we do business. Our dedicated RPN staff are here in Nevada, providing a direct line of communication for the people in our rural communities that have long struggled to get access to federal funding. We’re really just getting started and we look forward to a long partnership with community networks that are helping to advance local priorities and economies.”
Southwest Central Regional Economic Development Authority is receiving a $92,087 grant to establish a revolving loan fund. This fund will assist startup businesses in Nye and Esmeralda counties and support job growth. Funding is provided through USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant program, which offers grant dollars to assist with economic development planning and/or the financing or expansion of rural businesses.
In Clark County, USDA is partnering with lender Home Loan Investment Bank to provide a $9.2 million loan guarantee for ADK Nevada Hospitality LLC to finance the Best Western hotel in Boulder City, Nevada. This investment will help the local economy, which benefits from tourism due to the city’s proximity to the Hoover Dam. This funding is provided through USDA’s Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program, which improves the economic health of rural communities by increasing access to business capital.
The projects will help communities address immediate needs and carry out long-term strategies for economic growth and stability.
Background: Rural Partners Network
Launched in April 2022 and expanded in November 2022, RPN is now active in 36 community networks in 10 states and Puerto Rico.
Community networks receive support from full-time USDA staff who live and work locally. These staff members provide technical assistance based on each community’s needs, helping them navigate federal programs, build relationships and apply for funding. In addition to USDA staff, there are staff at more than 24 other federal agencies dedicated to RPN and making resources across the government easier to access for people in rural communities.
RPN communities also benefit from coordination through other federal efforts such as the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization and President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative and Investing in America agenda. The Rural Prosperity Interagency Policy Council, co-led by the White House Domestic Policy Council and USDA, advises the RPN program and ensures rural voices are heard and reflected in national policies that will benefit all people in rural communities.
Since RPN’s launch, USDA has provided more than $800 million to fund a variety of projects in RPN communities.
For more information on RPN, visit Rural.gov.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for Nevadans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/nv.
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