New Jersey USDA Rural Development Can Assist with Disaster Recovery Efforts
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today unveiled a Resource Guide as part of National Preparedness Month to help rural communities seeking disaster resiliency and recovery assistance.
Recently, Ida significantly impacted many communities in NJ resulting in damage to homes, businesses and public facilities. Tragically, 29 individuals perished during this sudden, powerful storm in NJ. With President Biden’s approval of disaster declarations in 11 NJ counties, FEMA provides first line individual and public assistance to residents and communities affected by flooding and tornados. USDA Rural Development (RD) programs are also a source of funding for emergency preparedness, constructing resilient infrastructure and rebuilding communities.
This guide follows the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement of the American Jobs Plan, which targets investments to support infrastructure in communities that are most physically and financially vulnerable to climate-driven disasters.
“According to the President’s plan, the United States endured 22 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2020, costing $95 billion in damages to homes, businesses and public infrastructure. Already this year, we have seen historic storms like Ida and fires in the West ravage urban and rural communities alike,” Maxson said. “Under the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris and Secretary Vilsack, USDA remains committed to helping America's rural communities build back better by making rural infrastructure – including homes and businesses – more resilient in the face of increasingly severe floods, wildfires, hurricanes and other risks.”
USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Brandon Pfeilmeier said, “The USDA Rural Development Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Resources Guide was launched today for National Preparedness Month to help rural residents, businesses and communities impacted by disaster and to support long term planning and recovery efforts for the future. Our Team is ready to assist NJ rural communities recover and restore their communities.”
The Resource Guide includes a resource matrix categorizes RD programs that can support preparedness and recovery through four key assistance types:
- Housing assistance, and community and economic development planning;
- Infrastructure and equipment financing;
- Industry, entrepreneurship and local business development; and
- Education and training.
The guide also includes information on technical assistance providers and other federal agencies that work with USDA to support rural communities in disaster planning and recovery efforts. It features examples of how customers have used USDA programs to support their recovery efforts.
Additional resources to support rural communities seeking disaster assistance are available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.
To learn more about investment resources and disaster recovery for rural areas, contact USDA Rural Development in New Jersey:
- Housing Programs: M. Geraldine Manganaro, Housing Programs Director,
(856) 787-7721 or geraldine.manganaro@usda.gov - Community Programs: Christine M. Schmelzle, Community Programs Director, (856) 787-7751 or christine.schmelzle@usda.gov
- Business & Cooperative Services: Maryann Tancredi, Business & Cooperative Service Programs Director, (856) 787-7752 or maryann.tancredi@usda.gov.
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/nj.
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.
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