The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) has various programs available to aid in the development of rural areas, including airports. Since the RDA does not have a field structure in place, Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) continues to administer the program at the local level. FmHA is authorized to make loans to develop community facilities for public use in rural areas and towns of not more than 20,000 people.
Who May Receive Assistance?
Loans are available for public entities such as municipalities, counties, special purpose districts, Indian tribes, and nonprofit corporations.
How May Funds Be Used?
FmHA loan funds may be used to construct, enlarge, or improve community facilities for public services, public safety, and health care.
Public service facilities include community buildings, courthouse, public maintenance buildings, libraries, schools, industrial parks, roads, bridges, airports, fairgrounds, utilities, and other improvements or to acquire interest in lands, leases, and rights-of-way necessary to develop the facilities. Loan funds may also be used for necessary equipment for the operation of these facilities.
Public safety facilities include fire stations and buildings to house fire and/or rescue equipment. Funds may also be used to purchase fire trucks, ambulances, or emergency communications equipment; to buy or build fire and rescue multiservice centers, police stations, and jails, and to pay necessary costs connected with these facilities.
Health care facilities include hospitals, nursing homes, and dental or medical clinics or medical rehabilitation centers. Funds may also be used for necessary equipment for the operation of these facilities; and to pay other necessary costs connected with them.
For more information or to receive a “Community Facility Loans” Program Aid Brochure #1100, contact FmHA’s Texas State Office in Temple, TX, 817/774- 1306.
FmHA has 18 District Office locations in Texas. Their Texas State Office in Temple can advise you which district handles your county. Or, you may write to “Farmers Home Administration, USDA, 101 S. Main, Suite 102, Temple, TX 76501.”