Oregon Rural Developments Newsletter (Fall 2015)

Oregon Rural Developments

Welcome to the quarterly newsletter of USDA Rural Development in Oregon.  Here, you will find updates on funding opportunities and program activities through our Business, Cooperative, Community Facility, Multi-Family and Single-Family Housing programs.   


USDA Rural Development Investments in Oregon Top $660 Million in 2015

USDA Rural Development had another busy year during federal fiscal year 2015, which ended on September 30th, as we invested in strategic projects across rural Oregon. A detailed report including all of our loan and grant programs will be made available soon. In the meantime, here are some of the highlights:


New Video on Investing in Education, Creating Opportunity for Native Youth on the Warm Springs Reservation

Photo of the Warm Springs Academy

As we celebrate National Native American Heritage Month this November and recognize the innovation and achievements being made throughout Indian Country, Rural Development and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation have come together to create a video telling the story of the community’s efforts to achieve high-quality education that respects the Tribe’s cultures and traditions and prepares students to be future leaders. Click here to watch the video…


Oregon Welcomes New Multi-Family Housing Program Director

Photo of Wes Cochran, Multi-Family Housing Program Manager

Rural Development is happy to welcome J. Wesley (Wes) Cochran as our new Multi-Family Housing Program Director in Oregon. Wes comes to Oregon from the Rural Development office in Mt. Vernon, Washington, where he worked as a Multi-Family Housing Specialist. He has been with the agency for eight years, and in that time, he has also worked as a loan specialist in our Business and Cooperative Programs and our Community Programs.

Prior to joining Rural Development, Wes worked for the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Wes also gained 30 years of experience in banking prior to the start of his Federal service, including five years with the Bank of Hawaii and serving as an Executive Vice President with a community bank in his hometown of Everett, Washington.


Meeting the Housing Need of Farmworkers in The Dalles

On October 27th, Rural Development joined its partners to break ground on Heritage Heights, a new farmworker housing apartment complex in The Dalles. With assistance from a Rural Development loan of $1.5 million and a grant of $1.5 million provided through the Farm Labor Housing Program, the nonprofit Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation and consultant CASA of Oregon will construct an apartment complex that can accommodate 24 farmworker families. In addition, Rural Development will provide rental assistance to 23 families when they move into the new apartments, ensuring their rent payments do not exceed 30 percent of their income. Click here to read more…


Rural Oregon Electric Cooperatives Receive $47 Million in Funding

Rural Development recently awarded $47 million in loans for two electric infrastructure projects in rural Oregon. The Umatilla Electric Cooperative in northeast Oregon is receiving $43 million to install 112 miles of transmission lines to improve services for its approximately 10,000 members. West Oregon Electric Cooperative in Columbia County is receiving a $4 million loan to replace and upgrade overhead and underground distribution lines originally installed in the 1970s and 1980s in order to improve access to electric power for local residents.

These awards are part of a nationwide announcement of $2.3 billion in loans to help 77 utilities and cooperatives build and improve rural electric infrastructure across rural America. Click here to read more…


Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Investments Exceed $1.3 Million in Rural Oregon Last Year

Photo of wind mill

USDA Rural Development invested more than $1.3 million in 59 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in rural Oregon during federal fiscal year 2015. The funding was provided through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

“These investments are helping farmers, ranchers, and rural small business owners lower their energy costs and improve their bottom line while reducing their carbon footprint,” said State Director Vicki Walker.

Nationwide, USDA invested $242.7 million in nearly 2,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

Applications are now being accepted for fiscal year 2016 funding through REAP. For application deadlines and details on how to apply, contact John Holman, Oregon Energy Coordinator, at (503) 414-3369 or john.holman@or.usda.gov and see page 60349 of the October 6 Federal Register.


Meet the New Staff at Oregon Rural Development

Rural Development is pleased to welcome the following new staff member to our team here in Oregon. For a complete directory for Oregon Rural Development, click here.

Photo of Nate Brown, Single Family Housing Specialist

Nathan (Nate) Brown is a new Single Family Housing Specialist in our Tangent office. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in computer information systems and a MBA from the University of Nevada. After graduating, he went into banking, where he spent five years as a loan officer and branch manager. Nate can be reached directly at nathan.brown2@or.usda.gov or (541) 967-5925, extension 133.

Photo of Barbara Brunson, Single Family Housing Specialist

Barbara Brunson is another new Single Family Housing Specialist in our Tangent office. She has worked in the mortgage industry for over 20 years in various roles, including as a loan underwriter, loan processor, and quality control underwriter. She has also worked in secondary marketing selling closed loans to investors. Most recently, she worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for five years. Barbara can be reached at barbara.brunson@or.usda.gov or (541) 967-5925, extension 113.

Jean Valdez, Single Family Housing Specialist

Jean Valdez is a new Single Family Housing Specialist in our Redmond office. Jean served in the U.S. Navy for almost eight years. After his tour of duty, he got involved in the brokering and banking side of the mortgage industry. Jean has a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Liberty University, and he is just a few courses shy of his MBA. Jean can be reached at jean.valdez@or.usda.gov or (541) 923-4358, extension 134.

Photo of Isaac Bright, Single Family Housing Technician

Isaac Bright is a new Single Family Housing Technician in our Roseburg office, and he is also serving as our Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnership Coordinator. Isaac comes to Rural Development with a background in lending, community outreach, and insurance. He has a Master’s degree from Western Oregon University in teaching and health education, and he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Redlands. Isaac can be reached at isaac.bright@or.usda.gov or (541) 673-0136, extension 113.

Photo of Eben Fisher, Secretary to the State Director

Eben Fisher is the new Secretary to the State Director in our Portland office. Prior to joining Rural Development, he served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Sergeant in the infantry. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, and then to the South Pacific. He is originally from Eugene, and is happy to be living in Oregon again. You can reach him at eben.fisher@or.usda.gov or (503) 414-3304.


Wastewater System Improvements Coming to Crook and Tillamook Counties

Photo of wastewater treatment plant

Rural Development recently awarded $15.6 million in loans and grants to upgrade wastewater systems in rural Oregon. “These investments are critical to help rural communities maintain and upgrade their infrastructure while protecting the natural resources valued by their residents and visitors alike,” said State Director Vicki Walker.

The City of Prineville in central Oregon is receiving a $4 million loan and a $1 million grant to make major improvements to its wastewater treatment system. This $8.9 million project will upgrade the existing system and create a wetland area for the disposal of treated wastewater to help protect local water quality.

In northwest Oregon, Pacific City was awarded an $8.7 million loan and a $1.9 million grant to upgrade its aging wastewater treatment plant. This project will expand the system’s capacity, setting the foundation for future growth and increased seasonal tourism while protecting local water quality. Click here to read more…

The Rural Development loan and grant funds were provided through the Water and Waste Disposal Program. Interest rates are now as low as 3.25% to 2.00%, depending on the median household income for the service area. If you would like to start planning your rural community’s wastewater system project, contact one of our Community Programs Specialists today to find out what financial assistance Rural Development can provide.


New Farmers Digital Toolkit

Photo of USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Resource Website

Farming is a tough job, but at the heart of it all, there’s a vibrant community contributing to the future of our nation’s health and food security. Now USDA has a new tool to help you find the resources you need to get started or to build up your farming operations: www.usda.gov/newfarmers.

The site features tips for farmers on getting started and opportunities just for you. You can browse the site or use our Discovery Tool to tailor your experience by answering a few questions in order to get back personalized resources to meet your needs.


Community Food Project Grows Community Leaders

Photo of Raices Program farmers' market stall

Rural Development awarded nonprofit The Next Door a $30,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant in 2012 to develop a farm incubator with agricultural and business training to help low-income Latino families in Hood River supplement their incomes. Many work in local farm fields, orchards, and food processing facilities. Despite their hard work and vital contributions to the local economy, they are often underemployed and struggle to make ends meet.

Through the Raices program operated by The Next Door, two dozen families grew pesticide-free fruits and vegetables this year, improving access to healthy foods while lowering grocery costs. Eight families also sold produce at area farmers’ markets. The smaller producers earn about $50 per week. The most active producer earns a couple thousand each season, which paid for the family’s first computer and needed home repairs.

The program’s benefits, however, don’t stop at the dinner table or the pocketbook. Selling at the market builds the confidence of immigrants who may have limited English or little interaction with the larger population. From the start, it has also served as a leadership program. These emerging local leaders are cultivating opportunity, capacity, and networks to enhance community vitality. Click here to read more…


Start Planning Your Rural Community Facility Project Today

Photo of Lake District Hospital

Through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program, Rural Development has helped rural communities across the state finance new facilities and equipment or improvements to schools, fire stations, city halls, police vehicles, hospitals, and much more. Rural Development funds can be used to purchase, construct, or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment, and pay related project expenses. Eligible applicants include public bodies, community-based nonprofits, and Federally-recognized tribes. Applications are accepted year round, and interest rates are now just 3.25%. Those rates are set quarterly and are fixed for the life of the loan. To start planning your next community facility project, contact one of our Community Program Specialists to learn more about the financial tools available to assist you.


Helping to Feed the Hungry, Reduce Poverty on the Southern Oregon Coast

Rural Development is helping to feed the hungry and reduce poverty on the southern Oregon coast with grant funding provided through the Community Facilities Program. The grants are helping two nonprofits protect perishable food supplies and ensure reliable, uninterrupted emergency food services in rural areas.

Oregon Coast Community Action (ORCCA) operates the South Coast Food Share, a regional distributor for the Oregon Food Bank serving Coos and Curry counties, as well as parts of Douglas County. ORCCA received a $41,000 grant to purchase a refrigerated food truck to enable the nonprofit to distribute perishable foods to their partner food banks and meal sites.

Florence Food Share, an emergency food box pantry, distributes approximately 50,000 pounds of food each month, serving a 270-mile area in western Lane County. The nonprofit received a $12,200 grant from USDA for the purchase of a generator to provide electricity during power outages. The new generator will maintain power and safe food storage in the event of an emergency. Click here to read more…


Rural Development Employees Help Feed the Hungry

While many of USDA’s programs are helping to address issues of poverty and food insecurity, Rural Development employees have also been helping to feed the hungry. In Oregon, employees across the state donated more than 1,500 pounds of food this summer as part of the nationwide Feds Feed Families food drive.

Feds Feed Families began in 2009 as an effort to raise food for Americans struggling with hunger by helping food banks and pantries remain stocked during the summer, a time when they traditionally encounter a decrease in donations while the need for assistance increases.

Through the donations made by Rural Development employees in Oregon, more than 1,300 families received a meal this summer.


Oregon Rural Development Employee Receives Abraham Lincoln Honor Award for Excellence

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack honored USDA employees from across the nation for their exceptional leadership and accomplishments on November 5th at the Abraham Lincoln Honor Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Included among the employees being recognized was one member of the Oregon Rural Development team. Monty Shuster, Contracts Program Manager, received the award for his contributions to a national team that exhibited excellence in strategic development and management of USDA’s $450 million leasing portfolio.

Photo of USDA Abraham Lincoln Honor Award recipients