U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Arizona State Director Charlene Fernandez today announced the availability of grants for organizations to help people repair homes they own or rent that were damaged by the Arizona Crooks, Pipeline, or Tunnel 2 fires in calendar year 2022.
The homes must be located in eligible rural areas and presidentially declared disaster areas.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA stand ready to deploy every resource at our disposal to help Arizona families and individuals rebuild their lives and communities after disaster events,” Fernandez said. “The assistance I'm announcing today is another way we’re looking to support our rural neighbors in Coconino and Yavapai counties who were impacted by wildfire.”
The grants are being made available through supplemental disaster funding under the Housing Preservation Grants program. Organizations may apply to receive up to $50,000 to help people make repairs to their homes that were damaged by natural disasters in calendar year 2022.
Eligible organizations include state and local governments, federally recognized Tribes, and nonprofits. Individual homeowners are not eligible to apply for this funding. Instead, they are encouraged to seek assistance through the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program.
The organizations may use the funds to provide grants or low-interest loans to repair or rehabilitate housing for low- and very low-income residents. For example, funds may be used to:
- Repair or replace electrical wiring, foundations, roofs, insulation, heating systems and water/waste disposal systems.
- Support accessibility features.
- Purchase construction materials.
- Finance administrative expenses up to 20%.
Funds may be used in the following presidentially declared disaster areas:
- Coconino County (Arizona Tunnel 2 Fire, Arizona Pipeline Fire)
- Yavapai County (Arizona Crooks Fire)
Completed preapplications for grants must be submitted by paper or electronically by 4:30 p.m. local time June 5, 2023. For additional information, see page 24148 of the April 19, 2023, Federal Register.
For more information on how to apply, contact Shelagh McLaughlin, shelagh.mclaughlin@usda.gov at (928) 759-9301 ext. 4 or visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/housing-preservation-grants.
Background
The Biden-Harris Administration championed the bill known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, that made this funding possible. Funds will remain available until expended.
In the coming months, USDA expects to announce additional funding availability under the bill to help rural people in presidentially declared disaster areas who were impacted by natural disasters in 2022. This additional funding will help rural communities repair water infrastructure and essential community facilities.
Additional resources to support rural communities seeking disaster assistance are available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.
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 http://www.rd.usda.gov/az. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.