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The USDA Rural Development Innovation Center is working to combine four guaranteed loan programs under a single regulation. This rule will improve agency efficiency in program delivery, customer service and program utilization. The rule will streamline and consolidate regulations for the following...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2021 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $167 million in 12 states to deploy broadband infrastructure (PDF, 360 KB) in rural areas without sufficient access to high-speed internet. “Generations...

RIO PIEDRAS, P.R., June 2, 2016 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced several measures to strengthen rural opportunity in Puerto Rico, including that the Eastern Region of Puerto Rico has been selected as a federal Promise Zone. Vilsack made the announcement at the conclusion of a...

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2015 — Today, the Obama Administration invited communities to participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative providing direct technical support to build strong local food systems as part of a community's emerging economic action plans. Under this effort, a team...

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a series of immediate steps the Department is taking to help homeowners affected by recent tornadoes in Oklahoma. "We extend our thoughts and prayers to everyone who has been affected," Vilsack said. "I have instructed all...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that rural agricultural producers and small business owners can now apply for resources to purchase and install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. These efforts help farmers, ranchers and...

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 16, 2012–Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded Pennsylvania State University a five-year research grant valued at roughly $10 million to develop biomass supply chains for the production of liquid transportation and aviation biofuels in the Northeast. This is the sixth...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will take new steps to save consumers money on their energy bills in partnership with rural electric cooperatives. USDA plans to provide rural electric cooperatives up to $250 million to lend to business and...

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today kicked off National Homeownership Month by highlighting USDA's ongoing role to help residents of America's small towns and cities purchase homes in rural areas. "Owning a home is one of the best ways American families enter the...

AMES, IOWA, Oct. 20, 2021 – Mexican Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Villalobos and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued the following statement at the conclusion of their bilateral meeting in Ames, Iowa. “We reaffirm the importance of our two nations’...