NHC Leadership Circle member Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (Rural LISC) was recently awarded 20 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help build vital services, capacity and infrastructure in rural communities across the U.S. The $20 million award will be distributed in the form of low-interest loans to rural community development organizations, nonprofits, service providers and municipal agencies in communities with less than 20,000 residents. The loans can be used for construction costs, equipment purchases and related project expenses for health care centers, clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, child care centers, community centers, schools, museums, libraries, colleges and other public buildings.
“Too many rural communities struggle to attract the basic services that urban residents are long-accustomed to having in their cities and towns,” said Rural LISC program vice president Suzanne Anarde in a press release. “[Rural LISC has] invested in these types of facilities for decades, and we know how to help get promising projects off the ground, even in our country’s most troubled communities.”
Rural LISC received the Housing Visionary Award at NHC’s 2016 Annual Housing Gala for its comprehensive approach to strengthening rural America. Just over four months later, it’s great to see Rural LISC rapidly expanding this approach in partnership with the USDA.
Learn more about holistic development solutions at NHC’s Solutions for Affordable Housing Conference this December. LISC’s Celia Smoot will join us for a session on Housing and Opportunity – Mobility as one of three speakers discussing the importance of housing choice and pathways to opportunities for all residents. Learn more about Solutions for Affordable Housing or register here.