United States Department of Agriculture: Rural Development

by: Iola Bonggay

I've always wondered how small towns and cities operate. I've always been fascinated by tightly-knitted communities and places where everyone just seems to know everyone.

The United States Government, I suppose, gives great importance to these kind of areas as well. In fact, they find these communities so significant that they decided to build an independent agency that strategically designed to cater to their unique needs and interests.

Of course, I am referring to the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Agency, which is more commonly known as USDA RD.

USDA Rural Development is an agency that is operating under the United States Department of Agriculture. The primary goal of the USDA RD is to assist in the improvement of the economy and quality of life in rural areas located in the United States.

The agency was established under the Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act.

The USDA RD's efforts are geared towards the improvement and further development of rural life in general. It has programs that are intended for supporting fundamental public services and facilities such as water and sewage systems, health clinics, housing services, electric and telephone services, and emergency saving facilities.

  (continued...)

United States Department of Agriculture: Rural Development
  Page 2

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

Minority Business Enterprise Centers for Minority-Owned Businesses
The The Minority Business Development Agency has recently constituted the Minority Business Enterprise Centers (MBEC) Program wherein it aims to support minority-owned businesses by providing them with electronic and one-on-one business development services for a reasonably nominal fee.

---

Origin-Destination Database of Border Traffic Flows for Transportation Planning
The Federal Highway Administration has recently announced a cooperative agreement entitled, Origin-Destination Database of Border Traffic Flows for Transportation Planning, to support Ontario's Ministry of Transportation in conducting training workshops focused on data collection, and the process of understanding and maximizing the use of the data collected.

---

Health Resources and Services Administration's Licensure Portability Grant Program
The Health Resources and Services Administration has constituted the Licensure Portability Grant Program (LPGP) wherein they aim to improve the experience of State licensing boards that have manifested a credible record in implementing cross-border activities in order to help overcome licensure barriers in the provision of telemedicine services across various States.

---

Family Planning Services Grants
OPHS has recently established a funding opportunity entitled Family Planning Services Grants, a program wherein the OPHS, along with the HHS, will award grants to eligible individuals who seek to operate voluntary family planning services projects that would provide family planning services to everyone who desires to avail of such services, including low-income families in under-served areas.

---