1. Rural Communities Broadband Roundtable October 24, 2013

2. USDA Rural Development U.S. Department of Agriculture agency  Develop economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural areas  Administer community, business and housing programs Provide assistance through  Grants, loans and loan guarantees  Includes individual homes, apartment complexes, renewable energy projects, business start-ups and expansions, and public projects such fire stations, village halls, water and sewer systems

3. Organization Administer more than 20 programs in New York Three major program areas  Community  Housing  Business National Programs administered through regional General Field Representatives (GFRs) and our National Rural Development office  Includes telecommunications, utilities, Distance Learning and Telemedicine

4. Community Facilities Program Overview

5. Community Facilities Facilities can include:  Health care clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, Schools, child care centers, head start centers, classrooms and dormitories  Police and fire stations, fire trucks, rescue vehicles, jails, communication centers  City/town/village halls, community centers, homeless shelters, food banks, sidewalks, libraries, museums, courthouses, street improvements

6. Community Facilities Applicants must be a municipality, non-profit organization, or Native American Tribe. Facilities must be located in rural areas with a population of less then 20,000 residents Applicants must be unable to obtain commercial credit at “reasonable rates and terms” Municipalities must go through the Bond Resolution process.

7. Community Facilities Applicants may apply for grant assistance on a graduated scale, based on the MHI, population, and funding availability. Grants are limited to the minimum amount needed for economic feasibility of the project. Direct loan funds may be used to pay 100% of the project cost. These include: construction, legal council, bond council, architect/engineering, construction inspection, etc.

8. Community Facilities Interest rates are a fixed rate with a term of the “useful life” of the facility Loans are secured by General Obligation Bonds for municipalities or collateral for a non-profit. Current Interest Rates are:  Market rate: 3.125%  Intermediate rate: 3.750%  Poverty rate:4.500%

9. Municipal Buildings

10. New Rescue Vehicle

11. Animal Shelter

12. New Rescue Building

13. New Home for NP Organization

14. New Health Center

15. Libraries

16. Fire Trucks

17. Museums

18. Any Questions

19. Business Programs Overview

20. Rural Business Programs Business & Industry GuaranteeB & I Rural Business Enterprise GrantRBEG Intermediary Relending ProgramIRP Rural Energy for America ProgramREAP Rural Business Opportunity GrantRBOG Value Added Producer GrantVAPG Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants REDLG Rural Cooperative Development Grant RCDG

21. Business & Industry Guarantee (B&I) create jobs and stimulate rural economies by providing financial backing for the rural businesses Applicant is the banks customer, the bank is our customer Business applies through a Federal or State Chartered bank, credit union, or other approved lenders Can be used for acquisition, start-up, and expansion of businesses Applications must be filed through an eligible lender (pre- applications are recommended)

22. Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants REDLG Applicant must be Electric Cooperatives & Rural Telephone Companies Provides zero interest loans and grants to rural communities through Rural Utilities Services (RUS) borrowers. Purpose is for Business startup or expansion projects that create rural jobs

23. Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program (RCDG) You must be a non-profit corporation or an institution of higher education Grant funds may be used to pay for the cost of establishing and operating centers for rural cooperative development Used for technical assistance for improving the economic conditions of rural areas through the development of new cooperatives and improving operating of existing cooperatives. The grant will cover 75% of the cost Maximum grant amount is $200,000

24. Example of a RCDG recipient The Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) has successfully applied for operating funds for many years from the RCDG program. CDI serves New England and New York as a technical assistance and training provider for new and existing coops Link to their website at http://www.cdi.coop/, or reach them by phone at 1-877-632-6677 (877-NE-COOPS) or by email at info@cdi.coophttp://www.cdi.coop/info@cdi.coop

25. Contacts www.rurdev.usda.gov/ny State Office (315) 477-6400 – Stanley Telega – State Director – Titus Falkenburg – Community Programs Director – Dave Schermerhorn – Business Programs Director Canton Local Office (315) 386-2401 ext.4 – Renee Hotte – Lead Area Specialist