We are a month into the new fiscal year with the

potential for growth and activity throughout the state. The pres-ident signed a continuing reso-lution that will fund USDA Rural Development programs through December 11, 2014.

We are optimistic that Congress will come together and do the right thing, making sure that the government has adequate funding to cary out its duties on behalf of the needs and wants of the American people.

While I was back in Washington D.C. earlier this year, State Directors from around the country were presented with a question. As we finish out our terms over the next two years, are we going to lead or are we simply going to manage?

You can be a great manager, but not be a great leader. I could work at just getting our resources out the door, but can I help make the agency better? Can I inspire others to do things in a better way?

Rather than just do things by following the status quo, can we take on the challenge and lead others to find better and more efficent ways to improve economic opportunity and the quality of life of rural Americans?

Many of our Rural Development staff are already leading the way. Many are already finding new ways to satisfy the needs and wants or our many rural stakeholders and I know they will continue to lead. I know they will continue to look for a better way to improve the process and make Washington State the best it can be through their own individu-al contributions.

And my own personal commitment is to continue to give it my best, to lead and not just manage, to set the example and forge a path ahead. We have challenges ahead of us, but but in the past, we have turned challenges into opportunities for the future.

Mario Villanueva,

Washington State Director

News BriefsFunding Available for Energy

Projects in FY2015Now is the time to start that energy project you’ve thought about for years and USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) may be able to help with funds needed to make that dream a reality.

USDA Rural Development has been helping local agriculture producers, ranchers and rural small businesses save money on their energy needs and growing our local green econ-omy.

Whether it’s installing solar panels on an office building, providing solar hot water for dairies, wind turbines to provide power to farm buildings, geothermal heat or power gen-eration or replacing old inefficient in-candescent lighting with new highly efficient LED lighting, REAP can help.

REAP can provide a grant of up to 25 percent of the total project cost or $500,000, whichever is less. But if you have a larger project that needs additional credit support, a REAP loan guarantee may be the answer. With a combination loan and grant, REAP can provide funds up to 75 percent of the total project costs. If you have a really large project, REAP can help finance your needs up $25 million.

For more information about how REAP can help you or your clients save money, give us a call! In Western Washington contact Carlotta Donisi at (360) 704-7724 and in Eastern Washington contact Roni Baer at (509) 454-5743 ext. 134.

Washington State

Volume 3 - Issue 11 November 2014

Rural DevelopmentsRural Developments

Washington State Rural Developments is published monthly by USDA

Rural Development, Washington State Office;

1835 Black Lake Blvd., SW, Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512

Contact Ushttp://www.rurdev.usda.gov/waEmail the Editor: Phil Eggmanphilip.eggman@wa.usda.gov

———USDA Rural Development is an equal

opportunity provider & employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410,

by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Turning Old Challenges into New Opportunities

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new state-by-state “Made in Rural

America” report illustrating the impact of USDA investments in rural communities. Each state factsheet highlights specific USDA investments in rural businesses, manufactur-ing, energy, water and other infrastructure development. They also outline how USDA is helping rural communities attract business-es and families by investing in housing and broadband.

“This report shows what investment in rural America means in real terms for families and businesses across the country,” said Vilsack. “Throughout the Obama Administration, USDA has created employment opportuni-ties in rural America through investments in manufacturing, energy and small businesses. At the same time, we are bringing reliable services like water, housing and broadband to make these same communities attract and retain a talented workforce. This report proves that the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in rural America.”

These fact sheets reflect Secretary Vilsack’s

efforts to strengthen the “four pillars” of a new economy in rural America: developing a robust bio-based economy; promoting exports and production agriculture fueled by increased productivity and research; encour-aging conservation including land manage-ment, stewardship and outdoor recreational opportunities; and building a strong local and regional food system to harness entre-preneurial innovation and help small and medium-sized family farms succeed in rural America.

The report’s state by state fact sheets are available at www.usda.gov/opportunities.

USDA Releases State-by-State “Made in Rural America” Report

USDA Rural Development has fund-ing available for the Mullti- Family

Housing Preservation and Revitalization Demonstration Program—Section 514, 515, and 516 for Fiscal Year 2014.

Funding is availability of up to $20 million in budget authority and the timeframe to submit applications to participate in the demonstration program.

Under the demonstration program, existing Section 515 Multi-Family Housing loans and Section 514/516 Off-Farm Labor Housing loans will be

restructured to ensure that sufficient resources are available to preserve the ability of rental projects to provide safe and affordable housing for very low-, low- or moderate-income residents.

Projects participating in this program will be expected to be revitalized to extend their affordable use without displacing tenants because of increased rents.

No additional Agency Rental Assistance (RA) units will be made available under this program. Pre-applications for the funding will be accepted until Novem-ber 24, 2014.

For more information, please refer page 56741 of the Sept. 23, 2014 issue of the Federal Register.

Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing

ProgramLoan guarantees are available to construct, acquire and rehabili-tate affordable rural rental hous-ing. USDA will review responses submitted by eligible lenders, on the lender’s letterhead, and signed by both the prospective borrower and lender. Although a complete application is not re-quired in response to this notice, eligible lenders may submit a complete application with a re-sponse. The response deadline is December 31, 2014. Details are on page 29159 of the May 21, 2014 Federal Register. Selected responses that develop into complete applications will nor-mally be funded with the fiscal year funds available on the date the application is completed.

Rural Community Development Initiative

Washington State Rural Developments November 2014

- 2 -

Visit us on the web at WWW.rurdev.usda.gov/wa

Funding Available For MFH MPR Demonstration Program

By Tammy RepineProgram Director

At the end of Fiscal Year 2014, SFH pro-grams had invested $606,947,934 to as-sist 3,219 households purchase or repair their home. This investment ensured that approximately 13,000 rural Washington residents (roughly the population of the town of Lynden, WA) were provided with affordable housing opportunities!

We would like to thank our staff and our many partner agencies including: non-profits, lenders, state and federal funders, and technical assistance pro-viders for working with us to make this happen!

Currently, under the leadership of Tony Hernandez, Administrator for the Rural Housing Service, new technologies are being explored to help streamline the SFH application and underwriting processes.

For example, in the Direct programs, electronic case files and an Automated Underwriting system are in the test phases; while in the Guaranteed Program, the underwriting system is being updated to incorporate more automated features and allow lenders to transmit documents and payments electronically.

Some of the Guaranteed Program changes have already occurred or are in the process of being rolled out. A recent press release by Mr. Hernandez highlights many of these changes: http://www.mortgagebankers.org/tools/FullStory.aspx?ArticleId=52258#full

Earlier this year, many areas of Wash-ington were classified as eligible due to Congressional action which allowed for some communities with populations up to 35,000 to be considered eligible. Our field offices continue to conduct outreach in those areas, spreading the good news of expanded program availability.

Congressional action in September put a hold on any future changes to the eligible areas during the Continuing Resolution (CR) which runs through December 11, 2014. It is uncertain if additional Congres-sional action will be taken after that date but we will keep you posted as guidance is received.

For a current map of eligible areas, please visit: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do?pageAc-tion=sfp&NavKey=property@11

As we look to the future, we know that change is ahead of us: Changes in pro-cesses, as well as in the way we do busi-ness. Having lost staff over the last several years, these technology improvements

should bring the ability to assist addition-al households in a more streamlined and timely manner, by reducing the burden of manual processing.

I am proud of the outstanding service that our staff have provided the last 5 years, amidst staffing losses and the lack of updated technology. You won’t find a more dedicated group of people who are committed to the future of rural America. We look forward to the new Fiscal Year ahead and continued service to our rural communities!

USDA is making nearly $6 million available to qualified organizations under the Rural Community Development Initia-tive (RCDI).

Recipients must be non-profit organizations, low-income rural communities, or federally recognized tribes. Intermediary organizations are required to provide matching funds at least equal to the RCDI grant.

The grants do not go directly to business recipients but rather through qualified intermediaries.

The deadline for submitting RCDI applications is November 12, 2014. Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development state office where the applicant’s headquarters are located.

More information about the program and how to apply is available on page 47427 of the August 13, 2014 Federal Register.

It’s an Exciting Time in Single Family Housing Programs (SFH)