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Rural Development has been financing the construction of utilities for 70 years in order to raise the standard of living in rural areas. These services were provided through some of the most successful government initiatives in American history, carried out through the United States Department of Agriculture working with rural cooperatives, nonprofit associations, public bodies, and for-profit utilities. USDA Rural Development provides loans, grants and loan guarantees for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste and storm drainage facilities. Public bodies and non-profit organizations in rural areas and towns of 10,000 people or fewer are eligible to apply. Rural Development also makes grants to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training to assist rural communities with their water, wastewater, and solid waste problems.
Rural Development provides many programs to finance Illinois’ rural telecommunications infrastructure. Since 1995, every telephone line constructed with Rural Development financing has been capable of providing broadband service using DSL technology. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program continues to wire our schools and improve health care delivery in rural America. The agency also ensures reliable, affordable electricity by providing leadership and capital to upgrade, expand, maintain, and replace the country’s rural electric network.
Direct Water and Waste Disposal
Loans
are used to construct, extend or improve water and waste disposal
(including solid waste disposal and storm drainage) systems in rural
areas and towns with a population not in excess of 10,000 people. The
funds are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties,
special purpose districts, Indian tribes and corporations not operated
for profit that are unable to obtain credit elsewhere on affordable
terms.
Learn more about the
Direct Water and Waste Program
. . .
Guaranteed Water and Waste Disposal
Loans
are also available to finance the same types of systems as the Direct
Loan Program. The loan is made by an eligible lender to borrowers and
guaranteed by Rural Development.
Learn more about the
Guaranteed Water and Waste Program
. . .
Water and Waste Disposal Grant
funds are used to reduce water and waste disposal costs to a reasonable
level for rural users. Grants range from zero to 75 percent of
eligible project costs based on the income of the area, project cost and
user rates and are usually made in conjunction with a Rural Development
water and waste disposal loan. The same types of applicants are
eligible as for loans.
Learn more about the
Water and Waste Disposal Grants
. . .
Technical Assistance and Training
Grants
provide funding to nonprofit organizations for technical assistance and
training on a wide range of issues relating to water and waste disposal
problems and to improve operation and maintenance of existing systems.
Learn more about
Technical Assistance and Training Grants
. . .
Solid Waste Management Grants
provide technical assistance and training to nonprofit organizations and
public bodies to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources,
improve planning and management of solid waste facilities and reduce the
solid waste stream. This assistance is available in rural areas and
towns with a population not in excess of 10,000.
Learn more about Solid
Waste Management Grants
. . .
Distance Learning and Telemedicine
Loan and Grant funds are used to encourage, improve, and make
affordable the use of advanced telecommunications, computer networks,
and related advanced technologies to provide educational and medical
benefits through distance learning and telemedicine projects to people
living in rural areas and to improve rural opportunities.
Learn more about
Distance Learning and Telemedicine
. . .
Rural Broadband Loans and Loan
Guarantees can be used for the constructions, acquisition,
and improvement of broadband transmission facilities and equipment; land
and buildings used in providing broadband service; and the refinancing
of Telecommunications Program debt. The program is available in
eligible rural communities with a population of 20,000 people or less.
Click on the link or email
Allen.DeForest@wdc.usda.gov
Learn more about
Rural Broadband Loans and Guarantees . . .
Community-Oriented Connectivity
Broadband Grant Program is designed to provide
financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants that
will provide currently unserved areas, on a “community-oriented
connectivity” basis, with broadband transmission service that fosters
economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care, and
public safety services. The program is available in eligible rural
communities with a population of 20,000 people or less. Click on the
link to the program or email
Allen.DeForest@wdc.usda.gov
Learn more about
Rural Broadband Loans and Guarantees
. . .
The Electric Program
makes loans and loan guarantees to finance the construction of
electric distribution, transmission and generation facilities, including
system improvements and replacement required to furnish and improve
electric service in rural areas, and for demand side management, energy
conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy
systems. Click on the link to the program or email
AaronS.Johnson@wdc.usda.gov
Learn more about
the Electric Program
. . .
Community Development Forms - Access Illinois’ Rural Development community development forms.
Steps in Forming and Funding Rural Water Systems
The purpose of this paper is to inform the reader of the general steps
to follow in forming a rural water system. We will cover the general
steps in forming a water system, legal entities that can be formed,
means of financing, current operation and maintenance costs, and average
bills on recently constructed systems.
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USDA Rural Development is an equal opportunity lender. Applicants for Rural Development services are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, familial status, age, handicap, or national origin. Any multi-family or public use facilities financed with the help of Rural Development must be made available to the public with the same consideration.
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Revised
January, 2008