USDA Announces Grants to Improve Housing for Farm Workers

The USDA
Sep. 10, 2012

The USDA is accepting applications for technical assistance grants to develop domestic and migrant farm labor housing.

The deadline for submitting applications is November 5, 2012.

.Advertisement.The USDA is accepting applications for technical assistance grants to develop domestic and migrant farm labor housing.

"These grants will help communities submit quality applications to increase their chances of getting funding to build much-needed affordable housing for farm workers," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Increasing the supply of affordable housing in rural communities not only helps the residents, it helps the entire community."

Grants are available to organizations that will help housing authorities, state and local governments, Indian tribes, non-profit organizations, and community- and faith-based groups apply for loans and grants to build farmworker housing. The purpose of the grants is to increase the number of high-quality applications USDA receives. Vilsack announced on July 18 the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for loans and grants to build or preserve affordable rental farm worker housing. This technical assistance funding is to organizations that assist potential borrowers under that NOFA.

Technical assistance grantees must have the knowledge, ability, expertise or practical experience necessary to develop and package farm labor housing loan and grant applications. They also will be required to submit a minimum number of applications to USDA, based on their location.

For additional information, see page 54877 of the September 6 Federal Register. The deadline for submitting applications is November 5, 2012.  Go to http://tinyurl.com/9yon3l8