LOUISIANA, Nov. 18, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the Department is investing $86 million to improve equitable access to jobs, business opportunities, education, housing, and health care for people who live and work in rural areas. The investments are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensure that people living in rural communities have equitable access to the infrastructure and opportunities often taken for granted by people living in urban and suburban areas.
“Regardless of where they live, their race, ethnicity or gender, or the size of the town in which they live, all people must have access to good jobs, decent housing, clean water and good job opportunities,” Vilsack said.
Background:
Vilsack highlighted 218 investments that USDA is making in six programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas. These programs include Tribal College Initiative Grants, Rural Community Development Initiative Grants, Housing Preservation Grants, Delta Health Care Grants, Socially Disadvantaged Group Grants and Water and Waste Disposal Grants.
Here in Louisiana Housing Preservation Grants totaling $523,433 are set to be allocated to 73 homeowners for rebuilding, repairing, and modifying their homes.
For example:
• The Catholic Charities of Acadiana, Inc. is receiving a $119,139 Housing Preservation Grant to provide home repairs and modifications to 10-12 eligible homeowners in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. These investments are helping the 10-12 recipients make essential modifications and repairs to their homes.
• The New Roads Housing Help Project (NRHHP) is receiving a $180,000 Housing Preservation Grant that will provide rehabilitation and preservation funding for 30-34 owner-occupied homes of low to extremely low-income rural families in New Roads, Louisiana. These investments will support healthier and happier lives for all 30-34 homeowners.
• The St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services (DCS) is receiving a $105,155 Housing Preservation Grant to help nine low and very low-income homeowners make essential health and safety repairs to their homes. These investments will assist in the repair and rehabilitation of eligible homes in St. Charles Parish.
• The St. James Parish Government Department of Human Resources, Community Action Agency (DHR) is receiving $119,139 to assist 15 low and very low-income homeowners in rehabilitating substandard housing and creating a safer and healthier environment in St. James Parish.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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. USDA Rural Development is prioritizing projects that will support key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help rural America build back better and stronger. Key priorities include combating the COVID-19 pandemic; addressing the impacts of climate change; and advancing equity in rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In 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 www.usda.gov.
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