U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Oklahoma State Office and State Director Kenneth Corn met with community leaders from Oklahoma’s historic 13 all-black towns during an outreach session Feb. 10 at Langston University.
Last year USDA Rural Development funded three historic all-black towns totaling more than $268,000 in grant funding to support communities in Clearview, Rentiesville and Summit. These projects focused on necessary street repairs and infrastructure upgrades for a community building.
“Oklahoma’s Historic All-Black Towns are a unique part of the fabric of our state history, and it is vital that we support these communities, who have been historically left behind with little to no funding being provided to infrastructure in these towns that are now well past their shelf life,” Corn said. “President Biden is a strong supporter of our historic black communities and has tasked federal agencies to find ways to help rebuild the prosperity and vibrancy many of these communities have seen in the past.”
The State of Oklahoma is unique in having the most established All-Black Towns in America. With 13 spread out from the northeast to southwest. USDA Rural Development staff was able to speak with nine of the communities to assist them in preparing applications for the Communities Facilities loan and grant program, which is funding available to many Oklahoma communities and tribal nations with populations under 20,000, rural business development grants that is designed for small or emerging businesses, and discussed opportunities through our housing ownership and repair loan program.
“I made a promise to our administration to help these towns with not just a hand out, but real assistance in finding projects that can aide their citizens,” Corn said. “From day one President Biden has directed federal agencies to rebuild American prosperity and infrastructure that has been left behind for far too long. We remain committed at Rural Development to fulfilling President Biden’s vision here in Oklahoma and in our Historic All-Black Towns.”
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/ok.