United States Department of Agriculture: Rural Development

by: Iola Bonggay

I've always wondered how small towns and cities operate. I've always been fascinated by tightly-knitted communities and places where everyone just seems to know everyone.

The United States Government, I suppose, gives great importance to these kind of areas as well. In fact, they find these communities so significant that they decided to build an independent agency that strategically designed to cater to their unique needs and interests.

Of course, I am referring to the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Agency, which is more commonly known as USDA RD.

USDA Rural Development is an agency that is operating under the United States Department of Agriculture. The primary goal of the USDA RD is to assist in the improvement of the economy and quality of life in rural areas located in the United States.

The agency was established under the Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act.

The USDA RD's efforts are geared towards the improvement and further development of rural life in general. It has programs that are intended for supporting fundamental public services and facilities such as water and sewage systems, health clinics, housing services, electric and telephone services, and emergency saving facilities.

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United States Department of Agriculture: Rural Development
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About The Author Iola Bonggay is an editor of TopGovernmentGrants.com one the the most comprehensive Websites offering information on government grants and federal government programs. She also maintains Websites providing resources on education grant money and civic engagement grants.

Additional Resources

category - Applying for a Grant

Department of Agriculture: Value Added Producer Grants
The Value-Added Producer Grants program is geared towards helping the Independent Producers of Agricultural Commodities, Agriculture Producer Groups, Farmer and Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Business Ventures in developing techniques that would create marketing opportunities and establish business plans involving viable marketing opportunities that involve the production of bio-based products from agricultural commodities.

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Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Fellowships Grant Program
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grant program revolves around the premise of providing funds to both fundamental and applied research studies, education, and extension that would hopefully address concerns related to food and agricultural sciences.

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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Centers for Oceans and Human Health
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has recently established a funding opportunity entitled Centers for Oceans and Human Health which provide linkages between members of ocean sciences and biomedical communities in the hopes of supporting interdisciplinary studies in areas where thorough understanding of marine processes and ecosystems harbor the potential to reduce public health risks.

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Family Planning Services Grants
OPHS has recently established a funding opportunity entitled Family Planning Services Grants, a program wherein the OPHS, along with the HHS, will award grants to eligible individuals who seek to operate voluntary family planning services projects that would provide family planning services to everyone who desires to avail of such services, including low-income families in under-served areas.

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