United States Department of Agriculture: Rural Development
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It has also established programs that will help boost the economy, such as awarding grants and loans to small businesses that based in rural areas through the assistance of banks, credit unions and community-managed lending pools.

In an effort to pursue all of the programs and activities that are essential to the realization of the agency's mission, the USDA RD has established three major operating units, specifically:

1.) The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) - RBS is one of the three major operating units of the USDA RD that is primarily responsible for administering several economic development programs. Its mission is "to enhance the quality of life for rural Americans by providing leadership in building competitive businesses including sustainable cooperatives that can prosper in the global marketplace."

2) The Rural Housing Service (RHS) - RHS is the second major operating unit under the USDA RD. It functions by providing several homeownersip options to individuals, rental assistance to eligible tenants, farm labor housing, funding for housing rehabilitation and preservation, funding for developers of multi-family housing projects, and for community facilities such as child care centers, libraries, schools, firefighting equipment, and municipal buildings.

3) The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) - RUS is the third operating agency unit of the USDA RD, and its work is largely focused on promoting and implementing public utility services, such as telephone, electricity, sewage, and water services.

The programs offered by the USDA RD are not limited to the ones that are stated above. If you want to know more, you can check out their official website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Home.html.

United States Department of Agriculture: Rural Development
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About The Author Iola Bonggay is an editor of TopGovernmentGrants.com one the the most comprehensive Websites offering information on government grants and federal government programs. She also maintains Websites providing resources on education grant money and civic engagement grants.

Additional Resources

category - Applying for a Grant

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Fellowships Grant Program
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grant program revolves around the premise of providing funds to both fundamental and applied research studies, education, and extension that would hopefully address concerns related to food and agricultural sciences.

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Department of Agriculture: Technical Assistance and Training Grant
The Department of Agriculture has recently established the Technical Assistance and Training Grants program.

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Department of Agriculture: Value Added Producer Grants
The Value-Added Producer Grants program is geared towards helping the Independent Producers of Agricultural Commodities, Agriculture Producer Groups, Farmer and Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Business Ventures in developing techniques that would create marketing opportunities and establish business plans involving viable marketing opportunities that involve the production of bio-based products from agricultural commodities.

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Coastal Impact Assistance Program
The Fish and Wildlife Service has recently established the Coastal Impact Assistance Program wherein the agency will provide a ceiling budget amounting to $250 million to be utilized in conservation, protection, and preservation projects of coastal areas, including wetlands.

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