An Online Conversation with the Central Appalachian Network Presented By: Lisa Sharp Rural Business-Cooperative Program Director/ Rural Development Coordinator June 22, 2012
Agenda for Today s Webinar Welcome and technology overview Who is the Central Appalachian Network? Presentation Lisa Sharp, Rural Business-Cooperative Program Director/Rural Development Coordinator, USDA Rural Development WV State Office Carrie Ray, Research and Policy Associate, MACED Questions and discussion
Technology Overview Attendee lists how to hide or expand Meeting chat ask questions or make comments Address to host (Katy Allen) or to everyone Webinar is being recorded Follow-up email: link to recording and short evaluation survey
The Central Appalachian Network Network led by six non-profit organizations ACEnet Athens, OH ASD Abingdon, VA CEO Charleston, WV MACED Berea, KY NCIF Shepherdstown, WV Rural Action Trimble, OH Shared purpose is to work for a more just and sustainable Appalachia
The Central Appalachian Network Focused on building and strengthening local and regional agricultural value chains Training, technical assistance, network-building, regional gatherings, online learning opportunities, policy outreach and education, small grants program For more information, visit www.cannetwork.org
USDA has the unique responsibility of coordinating Federal assistance to rural areas of the nation. Rural Development programs are delivered across three primary program areas: Rural Housing Service Rural Utilities Service (Community Programs) Rural Business and Cooperative Programs
Vision: A Rural America that is a Healthy, Safe & Prosperous Place to Live and Work. Mission: To Increase Economic Opportunity and Improve the Quality of Life for all Rural Americans.
Each year, across the country, USDA Rural Development programs: Create or preserve tens of thousands of rural jobs Build and update rural infrastructure Create or improve more than 60,000 units of quality rural housing
In Fiscal Year 2011, our agency invested more than $316 million in loans and grants to communities, businesses and individuals. Utility programs assisted more than 17,500 water and waste users Business programs created 297 jobs and saved another 600; assisted 257 businesses in rural communities across WV Housing programs helped finance new or improved housing or provided rental assistance for more than 1,900 persons in rural WV
Rural Housing Service Provides homeownership opportunities to low- and moderate-income rural Americans through several loan, grant and loan guarantee programs Funding also available to individuals to finance vital improvements necessary to make their homes decent, safe and sanitary
502 Direct Loans Used to help low-income individuals or households purchase homes in rural areas Used to acquire, build (including funds to purchase and prepare sites and to provide water and sewage facilities), repair, renovate or relocate a home Eligibility is based upon income as it relates to the area median income and reasonable credit history
504 Housing Repair Program Provides loans and grants to very low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize their dwellings or to remove health and safety hazards. Loan funds are available to those persons who are unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere, have very low incomes (50 percent of the area median income) Grant funds only available to homeowners 62 years old or older and don t have the ability to repay a Section 504 loan After Before
Rural Rental Housing and Rental Assistance Finance construction of rental housing for low- and moderateincome individuals and families, elderly or disabled persons (282 projects have been constructed in WV) Rental assistance enables lowincome tenants to pay no more than 30 percent of their income for rent
Community Programs (Rural Utilities Service) Administers water and wastewater loan and grant programs to improve the quality of life and promote economic development in rural areas Electric Program makes loans and grants to finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission and generation facilities Telecommunications programs help promote state-ofthe-art advanced telecommunications technologies In WV, administers the Community Facilities program to develop essential community facilities for public use in rural areas
Water and Environmental Programs Direct loans offered to water and wastewater systems, including solid waste disposal storm drainage Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, special-purpose districts and Indian tribes Maximum loan term 40 years not to exceed useful life of the facility
Solid Waste Management Grants (SWMG) Funds awarded to provide technical assistance and training to communities to reduce of eliminate pollution of water resources and improve solid waste sites Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and public bodies Region VIII SWA received a grant to assist local government officials in their region with developing better strategies for managing municipal solid waste Compete for funds at National level
Community Facilities Direct Loans, Loan Guarantees and Grants Used to develop projects deemed essential communities facilities for public use in rural areas and town of up to 20,000 in population (hospitals, fire protection, public safety, libraries, schools, day care centers, etc.) Eligible entities include municipalities, counties and special-purpose districts, as well as to non-profit and tribal governments
Telecommunications Program Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant Program Loans and grants to support advanced telecommunications technologies that provide enhanced learning and health care opportunities for rural residents Community Connect Grant Grants to establish broadband service in rural communities not currently served Must foster economic growth and deliver enhanced educational, health care and public safety services
Rural Business-Cooperative Programs Provides for business credit needs in under-served rural areas, often in partnership with private-sector lenders Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program Commercial guarantees are available up to 80 percent of the loan amount Available to virtually any legally organized entity (individuals, cooperatives, corporations or partnerships, profit-oriented or nonprofit entities, municipalities, counties) Lender and borrower negotiate terms Aggregate loan amount available to one borrower is limited to $25 million
Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) Grants to public bodies, nonprofit corporations and federally recognized Indian tribal groups Finance and facilitate the development of small and emerging business in rural areas Funds may be used for acquisition and development of land; construction of buildings, plants and equipment; access streets and roads; parking areas and utility and service extension; revolving loan funds; fees for professional services, technical assistance, etc.
Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) Applications Due 8/6/12 Promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities Supports training and technical assistance for business development, entrepreneurs, and economic development officials and to assist with economic development planning Eligible applicants are rural public bodies, rural nonprofit corporations, rural Indian tribes and cooperatives with primarily rural members Eligible projects might include development of export markets; feasibility studies; development of long-term trade strategies; community economic planning; business training; establishment of business incubators, etc.
Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) Promotes economic activity and employment in rural communities Loans are provided to local organizations (intermediaries) for the establishment of revolving loan funds Revolving loan funds are used to assist with financing business and economic development activity to create or retain jobs in disadvantaged and remote communities An intermediary may borrow up to $2 million under its first financing and up to $1 million at a time thereafter; Total aggregate debt is capped at $15 million; For FY 12 applicants are encouraged to apply for no more than $400,000
Value Added Producer Grant Program developed to encourage independent producers of agricultural commodities to further refine these products increasing their value to end users Grants may be used for planning activities and for working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer based business ventures Maximum grant amount for a planning grant is $100,000 and the maximum grant amount for a working capital grant is $300,000
Rural Development Energy Programs Our programs, authorized through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, fall into four categories: The Biorefinery Assistance Program provides loan guarantees for the development, construction, and retrofitting of commercial-scale biorefineries. The Repowering Assistance Program provides payments to eligible biorefineries to replace fossil fuels used to produce heat or power to operate the biorefineries with renewable biomass. The Advanced Biofuel Payment Program provides payments to producers to support and expand production of advanced biofuels refined from sources other than corn kernel starch. The Rural Energy for American Program provides assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of projects, including renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy development, energy audits, and feasibility studies. For more information about each of these programs: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/energy.html.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Provides loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses (for-profit) to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energyefficiency improvements Funds can be used for feasibility studies, energy audits and renewable energy assistance. Loans cannot exceed 75% of eligible project costs Grants cannot exceed 25% of eligible project costs
Eligible Projects for REAP Purchase of a renewable energy system or energy efficient improvements Technology must be pre-commercial or commercially available, and replicable Project must have technical merit
Renewable Energy Systems Biomass Geothermal Bio energy Anaerobic digester Wind Large vs. small Solar Electric Thermal Direct use (heat pump) Electric generation Hydrogen Hydroelectric (small) Hybrids Large vs. small
Energy Efficiency Improvements to a building, facility or process that reduces energy consumption or energy consumed per square foot Grain dryers & irrigation power units Lighting, refrigeration, HVAC, insulation Replacement of existing system
REAP Grant Funding Grants may be made for up to 25% of eligible project costs Renewable energy max grant: $500,000 Minimum: $2,500 Energy efficiency max grant: $250,000 Minimum: $1,500
REAP Guaranteed Loans Normally 80% guarantee 85% for loans $600,000 or less 70% for loans greater than $5 million Loan amount limited to 75% of total eligible project costs Maximum guaranteed loan amount: $25 million
Through our more than 40 programs, USDA Rural Development strives to meet its mission to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural American s Every Day, Every Way!
Rural Development www.rurdev.usda.gov Energy Website www.usda.gov/energy Energy Maps www.usda.gov/energy/maps/ Energy Matrix www.usda.gov/energy/matrix/home
Questions? Lisa Sharp Rural Business-Cooperative Program Director Rural Development Coordinator (304) 284-4871 PH Lisa.Sharp@wv.usda.gov