community development, tn basic economic development course 2013

Rural Development Working for Rural Communities

Our Mission• Increase Economic Opportunity and

Improve the Quality of Life for people living in Rural Communities

Program Areas

Homes Community Business

Housing ProgramsInnovative home ownership programs help families and individuals in rural

areas improve their economic security through affordable home loans, home repair loans and homebuyer education opportunities.

• Single family home loans help people buy, build, or repair modest homes in smaller communities.

• Single family home loan-guarantees help private lenders make more loans

and offer better terms in rural areas

Rental Housing ProgramsWe also work with private lenders to ensure financing is available for

developers and management companies to build or repair quality, affordable rental homes or apartments in rural communities.

Community ProgramsWe provide rural areas with financial resources to construct or improve essential services like reliable access to clean water, sewer, healthcare, education, job training, first responder equipment and community facilities

Funding is also available for rural electric, telecommunications, distance learning and telemedicine projects.

Community Programs• Safe, reliable drinking water• Waste disposal• Healthcare• Education • Job training• First responder equipment • Community facilities• Rural electric • Rural Telephone • Broadband• Distance learning • Telemedicine projects

• We help the private sector create jobs and diversify the local economy.

• Loan-guarantees helps rural businesses compete by working with private lenders to increase the pool of investment capital available for start-up, expansion and modernization.

• Loan and grant programs help local governments and non-profits build business-infrastructure necessary to sustain the community’s economic health.

Business Programs

Rural businesses are eligible for grants to fund • Energy Efficiency improvements• Renewable energy production

Energy Programs

Key Priorities:Excerpts from Under Secretary Tonsager

• Regional collaboration: Encourage communities to work together at the (multi-county) regional level to invest in opportunities to improve rural economies

• Community building: Channel the positive resources we have in rural America towards creating self-sustaining communities

• Strategic partners: We need strong partnerships to best serve rural regions

CD is central

• RD’s ultimate goal is building stronger communities and rural regions!

• CD plays a central role!