USDA Rural Development
Website: www.rurdev.usda.gov/al
Alabama
Ronald Davis, State Director
Sterling Centre, Suite 601
4121 Carmichael Road
Montgomery, AL 36106-3683
Phone: (334) 279-3400
Fax: (334) 279-3403
Through USDA Rural Development a variety of federal loan and grant programs are available for community development and business growth and expansion in rural areas. USDA Rural Development in Alabama invests approximately $120 million yearly for housing and community and economic development projects throughout rural Alabama. The mission of USDA Rural Development is to enhance the ability of rural communities to develop, to grow, and to improve their quality of life by investing financial and technical resources in areas of greatest need through activities of greatest potential.
The purpose of the USDA Rural Development Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program is to increase employment and improve the economic and environmental climate of rural communities by guaranteeing quality loans made by private lenders in areas outside the boundary of a city of 50,000 or more in population. The maximum aggregate B&I Guaranteed Loan amount is $25 million. Other USDA Rural Development loan and grant programs related to business development include Rural Business Enterprise Grants, Rural Business Opportunity Grants, the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, and the Intermediary Relending Program.
USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities program provides loans, loan guarantees and grants to public bodies and nonprofits to build or improve essential public use facilities in areas or towns of not more than 20,000 population. USDA Rural Development’s water and wastewater loan and grant program is available to rural areas and towns with less than 10,000 population for the construction of a new system or for improvements and extensions to existing systems.
Our financial programs support such essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. We promote economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks, credit unions and community-managed lending pools. We offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their operations. We provide technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs.
The USDA Rural Development’s mission is to enhance the ability of rural communities to develop, grow and improve their quality of life by targeting financial and technical resources in areas of greatest need through activities of greatest potential. Business and Industry direct and guaranteed loans are made for improving, developing, or financing business and industry, creating jobs, and improving the economic and environmental climate in rural communities. Assistance is available in rural areas (with populations up to 50,000). The maximum aggregate B&I direct loan amount is $10 million, while the maximum aggregate B&I guaranteed loan amount is $25 million.
Resource Type: Environmental, Funding, Housing, Infrastructure, Resources, Small Business