United States Department of Agriculture: Rural Development
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It has also established programs that will help boost the economy, such as awarding grants and loans to small businesses that based in rural areas through the assistance of banks, credit unions and community-managed lending pools.

In an effort to pursue all of the programs and activities that are essential to the realization of the agency's mission, the USDA RD has established three major operating units, specifically:

1.) The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) - RBS is one of the three major operating units of the USDA RD that is primarily responsible for administering several economic development programs. Its mission is "to enhance the quality of life for rural Americans by providing leadership in building competitive businesses including sustainable cooperatives that can prosper in the global marketplace."

2) The Rural Housing Service (RHS) - RHS is the second major operating unit under the USDA RD. It functions by providing several homeownersip options to individuals, rental assistance to eligible tenants, farm labor housing, funding for housing rehabilitation and preservation, funding for developers of multi-family housing projects, and for community facilities such as child care centers, libraries, schools, firefighting equipment, and municipal buildings.

3) The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) - RUS is the third operating agency unit of the USDA RD, and its work is largely focused on promoting and implementing public utility services, such as telephone, electricity, sewage, and water services.

The programs offered by the USDA RD are not limited to the ones that are stated above. If you want to know more, you can check out their official website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Home.html.

United States Department of Agriculture: Rural Development
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