USDA Rural Development programs assists local community members

Making life better for residents of Daviess County is the goal of the USDA Rural Development office in Chillicothe that serves the area.

The office utilized a number of programs in 1999 to help meet this goal. Programs utilized included the making of single-family housing loans and grants and community-oriented group program loans and grants.

During the year, the Chillicothe office made 61 direct and guaranteed single-family home purchase repair loans and grants totaling approximately $3 million in the eight-county area of north Missouri area it serves, including Daviess County.

Rural Development was also active on a statewide basis in 1999. William T. Shay, State Director, said, “USDA Rural Development provided $240 million in financial assistance to rural Missourians during fiscal year 1999.”

The funds, he said, were used to provide quality housing, jobs, clean drinking water and reliable essential communities. Shay also said approximately 8,000 outreach contacts were made with rural residents and communities, of which, some 2,000 were in the form of technical assistance to help with individual needs or community development activities.

“The Chillicothe Rural Development office had a busy year providing service to individuals and communities in the area,” said Dan Jackson, manager of the Chillicothe office. “Lending activity for single-family housing and community projects was substantial with the Chillicothe office also providing technical assistance as well.

Broken down by categories, Jackson said the office made loans, grants and guarantees as follows:

*Eighteen low-income and very-low income home ownership loans totaling $853,014.

*Fifteen very-low income home repair loans and grants totaling $59,109.

*Thirty five moderate-income guaranteed home ownership loans for approximately $2 million.

*Assisted the Area office in St. Joseph in making 17 direct and guaranteed loans and grants in the Community and Business Programs section. These were primarily for water and sewer loans, community facilities such as fire stations, day-care centers, and guaranteed business and industry loans.

The Rural Development office that serves Daviess County is located at 1100 Morton Parkway in Chillicothe. The low income housing program it administers consists of direct government loans and grants for home ownership and repair. To qualify, individuals must meet low and/or very low income guidelines.

In addition, the agency guarantees home ownership bank loans made to individuals to moderate income or less.

Rural Development also has a number of community-oriented, group programs such as community facility loans, guaranteed business and industry loans, water and sewer loans and grants and a number of other programs.

For information on these programs, contact the Rural Development office in Chillicothe at 660- 646-6222.