Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rural Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
USDA reintroduction: Rural housing, community facilities and utility programs offered to Washington County
Summary
Reginald Speight of USDA NC Rural Development outlined more than 50 programs to support persistent poverty counties, including single-family housing rehab (repair up to $10,000, rehab up to $40,000), community facilities funding, business refinancing tools and utility/broadband programs; he provided a contact phone and email for local follow-up.
Reginald Speight, Director of USDA NC Rural Development, visited the board May 2 to reintroduce USDA programs available to persistent poverty counties and to encourage Washington County officials to consider USDA assistance for housing, community facilities and utilities.
Speight said USDA offers more than 50 programs, citing single-family housing rehabilitation (examples given of $10,000 for repair and $40,000 for larger house rehab), single-family construction and financing assistance, community facilities funding for fire stations and hospitals, and a Rural Utility Services portfolio that covers broadband, electricity and water. He said Washington County has had a 20% or higher poverty level for consistent years and that USDA is focused on investing in persistent poverty counties.
Speight provided his contact information to the board (phone: 919-939-0314; email: reginald.speight@usda.gov) and noted the formation of a Rural Partners Network pilot in North Carolina to centralize access to federal resources. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about eligibility, interest rates (he cited current housing interest rates around 3.25% for some programs and 4% for certain community facility loans) and whether USDA could assist with courthouse or school facility funding; Speight encouraged the county to pursue available grants and programs and said staff would follow up as requested.
Provenance: Presentation and Q&A, SEG 009-017.
