USDA Rural Development In the coaches guide we need to give the coaches permission to add or delete slides to make the presentation more comfortable and adaptive to their Region. If they are in a Region with Tribal influence – will want to add lots of info on what RD can do with Tribes – if in area with no Tribes– probably don’t even have to bring that info up. United States Department of Agriculture

Topics Rural Development Mission Rural Development Programs Strategic Economic & Community Development (SECD) Cooperative Development Local Foods

Rural Development’s Mission Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America

Rural Development Agencies The agencies and programs work together and complement each other to build a thriving rural community. At this slide do the overarching description of each of the Service Areas and a broad discussion of each service area and some of the programs they have to offer and how they may be connected to Goals that were raised on White Board

Rural Utility Service (RUS) Electric Programs Telecommunications Programs Water & Environmental Programs Maybe rather than discuss each program and loans and grant available on each of these slides – discuss a story how grant and loan programs were applied in an a SET Region or a community –

Rural Housing Service (RHS) Multi-Family Housing Single-Family Housing Community Facilities Maybe rather than discuss each program and the list of grants and loans on each of these slides – discuss a story how grant and loan programs were applied in an a SET Region or a community

Rural Business & Cooperative Service Business Programs Energy Programs Cooperative Programs Maybe rather than discuss each program and the list of grants and loans on each of these slides – discuss a story how grant and loan programs were applied in an a SET Region or a community

Rural Development Type of Financial Assistance http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RD_ProgramMatrix.pdf

Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) Section 6025 of 2014 Farm Bill Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD)

What is the Section 6025 Strategic Economic & Community Development (SECD)? New requirement under 2014 Farm Bill Sets aside up to 10% of USDA program funds under: Community Facilities Water and Environmental Programs Rural Business Development Grants Business & Industry Guaranteed Loans So a multi-jurisdictional plan has to be a plan that is for a region or area that includes more than one unit of government. But please be mindful that most counties have several cities and towns within them. So county wide plan would meet definition of multi-jurisdictional. for prioritizing projects that support the implementation of a multi-jurisdictional plan.

Underlying Programs Community Facilities - Water and Environmental Programs Rural Business Development Grants Business & Industry Loans - businesses Don’t repeat the info on CF – WEP –RBDG and B&I – was just covered in over Does not match slide in Guide Book -- Don’t have presenter restate Program info that was just covered at beginning of presentation – better to discuss how to get make application – discuss how the first step in process is to make sure project in plan is feasible and ready for project funding ….. Then add next slide….

How the Process Works Work with appropriate RD Specialist to ensure all appropriate financial, environmental and back up data is submitted. First: Prepare loan/grant application for underlying program RD Form 1980-88 (the application for SECD consideration) Applicant check list for SECD Second: Submit for scoring under SECD* (*Can be submitted concurrently with loan/grant application)

Why SECD? Rural Development wants to excel at helping communities use USDA programs strategically by: Encouraging regional planning and collaboration with partners within regions. Using regional assets to promote the region. Leveraging resources and financing creatively. Recognizing that poverty reduction is a systemic problem that requires systemic solutions, the Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) is an opportunity to prioritize projects that support the implementation of a regional economic development plan. RD is moving away from transactional model of one-off project financing

The Regional Approach: A Proven Success Rural Development rewards projects that: Number of points Are tied to a Multijurisdictional Plan & meet at least 2 objectives Up to 10 points Have a Regional Plan with clear objectives and the ability to establish measureable performance measures Up to 2 points Have a plan developed from a collaboration of multiple stakeholders from its service area

A Good Plan… Rural Development rewards projects that include: Number of points Resources – The Plan demonstrates an understanding of the applicable regional assets that could support the Plan Up to 2 points Other Federal Investments - The Plan includes practical Investments from Federal agencies other than the USDA Philanthropic Investment – The Plan includes practical investments from Philanthropic organizations

Assistance to Regions SECD embraces technical assistance and initiatives as a tool for Rural Communities: Cooperative Development – a creative alternative for rural communities to provide services that meet its citizens needs. Local & Regional Food Systems assistance –provides technical assistance to communities that want to use local food systems to promote Community and Economic Development with a region.

Cooperative Development Co-ops are producer and user-owned businesses that are controlled by, and operate for the benefit of, their members. Farmer Co-ops – market and process crops Rural Utility Co-ops – electrical and telecommunication services Financial Co-ops – credit and financial services Other Co-ops – Food stores, daycare, health services The co-op business model is highly flexible and can address a wide variety of a rural community needs. For example, Farmer-owned co-ops help producer-members market and process their crops and livestock, and secure needed production supplies and services. Consumer-owned rural utility co-ops provide electrical power and telecommunications services. Financial co-ops provide credit and financial services. Other co-ops operate food stores, hardware, and building supply businesses, and provide education, daycare and health services, among many other things

Cooperative Development Rural Communities can consider Co-ops as a means to provide services to its citizen. For technical assistance with Cooperative Development: Margaret Bau Cooperative Development Specialist Margaret.Bau@wdc.usda Direct Line 715-345-7671

Local and Regional Food Systems Helps communities scale up local and regional food systems and strengthen their economies. Offers assistance in funding and technical assistance for developing regional food systems

Local and Regional Food Systems For technical assistance please contact: James Barham Agricultural Economic James.Barham@wdc.usda.gov 202-690-1411

Final Thoughts Rural Development has programs and committed staff that can address a variety of community and regional challenges SECD promotes and rewards a regional approach when using RD programs. RD Programs can be used to lift rural communities out of poverty when programs are used strategically. Co-ops and Local Foods Systems can be used to promote community and economic efforts for rural communities.

Rural Development Offices Discuss all the various contact levels to reach RD personnel RD State Office RD General Field Representative for Telecommunications RBS Coordinators Energy Coordinators CED Coordinators http://www.rd.usda.gov/browse-state

Regional Community Economic Development Coordinators Midwest: Christine Sorensen Northeast: Angela Callie West: Tim O’Connell Regional Coordinators in RD support CED Leads in the states in assisting communities in building their capacity and providing targeted technical assistance. By doing so, it is expected that Rural Development will increase the communities’ readiness for sustainable economic development and build project pipelines to take advantage of other RD Programs down the road. Additionally, CED staff can also help ensure that partnerships are established and that other resources are leverages so unserved and underserved socially disadvantaged and minority groups can be effectively assisted. RD CED Coordinators are responsible to Implement Stroger Economies Together(SET) and Farm Bill’s Section 6025 requirements (Strategic Economic & Community Development SECD – they work closely with CED staff in state offices and the field to support these initiatives and to provide direct technical expertise and support. South: Gregory Dale

QUESTIONS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. , Washington , D.C. 20250- 9410 , or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. We need to add the USDA civil rights statement in all presentations

Who to Contact? http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/ Insert Your Team Contact Info Be sure to insert your coaching team contact information. http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/