WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden today invited applications for loans, grants and debt deferrals to preserve or  improve safe affordable rental housing for low-income residents and farmworkers in rural communities.

The funding is being made available through the Multifamily Housing Preservation and Revitalization Demonstration Program and the Rural Rental Housing Program.

Under the Multifamily Housing Preservation and Revitalization Demonstration Program, USDA is  providing grants, and debt deferrals, as well as zero- and low-interest loans, to owners of USDA-financed rental and farmworker housing properties in rural areas.

Under the Rural Rental Housing Program, USDA is providing subsequent loans to help improve and preserve the availability of safe affordable rental housing for low-income residents. Eligible applicants must currently  finance their properties through the USDA Rural Rental Housing Loan Program or the Off-Farm Labor Housing loan program.

Potential applicants are encouraged to attend a virtual workshop on Thursday, Oct.17, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. ET, to  learn more about these funding opportunities. To register, visit Webinar Registration – Zoom (zoomgov.com).

The deadline to submit electronic applications is noon Eastern Time on December 26, 2024. Paper applications are not accepted.

USDA is particularly interested in applications that will advance Biden-Harris Administration priorities to:

  • Reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
  • Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD-funded projects; and
  • Help rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.

Additional information on these key priorities is available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.

For more about the funding availability, see page 79229 of the Sept. 27, 2024, Federal Register.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.