Oregon Rural Developments Newsletter (Fall 2019)

USDA Rural Development, Oregon Rural Developments Newsletter

Welcome to the quarterly newsletter of USDA Rural Development in Oregon. Here, you will find updates on funding opportunities and program activities through BusinessCooperativeEnergyElectricTelecommunicationsWater and EnvironmentalCommunity FacilitiesMulti-Family Housing, and Single Family Housing programs.


Rural Development Invests $403 Million in Rural Oregon in 2019

Pie Chart: USDA Rural Development FY 2019 Investments in Oregon

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development continued to invest in strategic projects to help improve the quality of life across rural communities here in Oregon during the federal fiscal year 2019, which ended on September 30th. These investments primarily included loans and loan guarantees, with a limited amount of grant funding.

Here are some of the highlights:

We look forward to continuing to partner with our rural communities in 2020 to help small-town Oregon thrive.


Oregon Welcomes New Deputy Under Secretary

USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary DJ LaVoy

On September 17, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue administered the oath of office to swear in Donald “DJ” LaVoy to serve as the USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary.

An experienced leader who focuses on people and effective management, DJ LaVoy has more than 22 years of experience working as a leader in affordable housing and economic development at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Most recently, LaVoy served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Real Estate Assessment Center, where he was highly effective in driving agency innovation.

LaVoy led the replacement of numerous, outdated IT data collection systems. He also partnered with members of the federal family and all 58 state housing finance agencies to lead the way in establishing a universal inspection standard for federally-subsidized housing properties. The standard will increase customer service and improve the lives of millions of Americans across the country.

LaVoy started his career with the U.S. Marine Corps and is a marine aviator and combat veteran. He earned his Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Old Dominion University and his Master of Industrial Engineering from the U.S. Army War College.


Announcing Oregon’s New Community Programs Director

Oregon Community Programs Director Charlotte Bentley

We are happy to announce the selection of Charlotte Bentley as our new Community Programs Director in Oregon.

Char has been with USDA Rural Development since 2008. She has a diverse background. Over the past year, she has been consulting on changes to Rural Development’s engineering and environmental teams. Prior to that, she spent five years as the Western Region Appraisal Services Manager. She also has experience serving as the State Engineer and State Environmental Coordinator in Oregon. In the initial years of the Rural Energy for America Program, Char played a significant role as state reviewer and policy advisor, utilizing her expertise from her Master in Renewable Energy. 

Prior to joining Rural Development, Char worked in the private and nonprofit sectors as a program and project manager of national and international programs. In between working for private-sector companies, she acted as a consultant to private utility companies regarding improvements to their energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. She was also the architect of the renewable energy programs first released by Energy Trust of Oregon. 

Char is a resident of Portland and spends most of her weekends at the family farm in Cornelius where she grew up. She can be reached at (503) 414-3356 or charlotte.bentley@usda.gov.


Introducing Oregon Rural Development’s New Staff Members

We are pleased to welcome two new staff members this quarter and to announce that two of our employees have taken new positions with Rural Development.

Community Programs Technician Chris Laughton

Chris Laughton is the new Community Programs Technician in our Portland state office.

Prior to joining Rural Development, Chris worked in management for both banking and retail. Most recently, he spent three years as a Branch Manager for Chase Bank.

You can reach Chris at chris.laughton@usda.gov  or (503) 414-3330.

Single Family Housing Specialist Denise Perry

Denise Perry is a new Single Family Housing Specialist in our Portland state office.

For the past year, Denise has worked as a Home Lender Advisor with Chase Bank.

She has 22 years of experience with Rural Development’s Single Family Housing programs. She began as a processor in Ohio and then served as a loan specialist for four years.

Her career began with the U.S. Navy, where Denise served as a Cryptologic Technician and worked in locations from Maine, to DC, to Scotland.

You can reach Denise at denise.perry@usda.gov or (503) 414-3328.

Telecommunications General Field Representative John Holman

John Holman is the new Telecommunications General Field Representative serving Oregon and Washington State.

He previously worked for Rural Development in Oregon as a Business and Cooperative Programs Specialist and the Energy Coordinator for the past 18 years.

John is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

He is excited to work with rural communities in Oregon and Washington to expand broadband networks. You can reach John at john.holman2@usda.gov or (503) 414-3369.

Business and Cooperative Programs Specialist Erika Moellmer

Finally, we are pleased to welcome Erika Moellmer to our Business and Cooperative Program team as a Loan Specialist in our Portland state office.

Erika began with Rural Development as an intern, and subsequently worked in our Single Family Housing programs here in Oregon.

She has a Bachelor in Environmental and Energy Policy, with a minor in German, from Oregon State University.

She can be reached at erika.moellmer@usda.gov or (503) 414-3333.


USDA Provides $6 Million to Expand Broadband Infrastructure in Grant and Wheeler Counties

John Day, Oregon

USDA Rural Development is providing $6 million to expand high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create e-connectivity for nearly 650 new customers in rural Grant and Wheeler counties.

Oregon Telephone Corporation (OTC) will use the ReConnect Pilot Program grant to deploy 89 miles of fiber to serve some of the most remote areas of the continental United States. The new broadband infrastructure will provide network speeds ranging from 30 megabits per second (Mbps) to 1 gigabyte per second (Gbps).

In a public-private partnership with John Day in its capacity as the leader of the intergovernmental Grant County Digital Network Coalition, OTC is working to provide the fastest internet access to as many residents at the lowest price possible. Under the partnership, OTC will build a fiber network and deliver broadband service to residents and businesses while leasing infrastructure to John Day to provide service to public agencies.

This fiber optic network will extend broadband across a 242-square-mile area surrounding John Day that includes 418 households, 22 businesses, 22 farms, 3 schools, and 2 fire stations, improving the quality of life for those who live and work in these remote, rural communities. Learn more online…


Improving Connectivity in Rural Oregon

Oregon ReConnect Broadband Workshop in Madras

In August, USDA Rural Development hosted two workshops focused on the planning process and resources available to help expand broadband infrastructure in rural communities.

The workshops delivered a wide array of information with the help of our partners at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Business Oregon, Link Oregon, Washington State University Extension, the City of Independence, and Jefferson County Economic Development of Central Oregon.

Thank you to all those who participated in these important discussions about improving broadband access for our rural communities. For those who were unable to attend, you can find the Independence Workshop and Madras Workshop presentation materials online.


State Director Receives Award for Outstanding Telecommunications Advocate

Outstanding Telecommunications Advocate Award

The 2019 Oregon Connections Telecommunication Conference in Ashland this October honored those who have positively impacted telecommunications development in Oregon.

Our own State Director John Huffman was recognized for his work to improve access to broadband in rural Oregon. The Outstanding Telecommunications Advocate Award honors an individual that has made a significant contribution or gone beyond the call of duty to advocate for improved access, reliability, and affordability, or to promote and accelerate adoption and utilization of telecommunications.

Our work on this important issue would not have been possible without the help of our many partners around the state. To learn more about how Rural Development can help finance broadband infrastructure in your rural community, visit our Telecommunication Program webpage.


Oregon Seeks Input on Expanding Broadband Access

Business Oregon

The Oregon State Broadband Office is conducting a statewide assessment of Oregon’s current broadband infrastructure and service availability. The data will be used by the state to develop strategies to address unserved and under-served areas, particularly in rural Oregon.

Oregon has made great progress toward improving access to high-quality broadband for local communities, but there is still much more to do. This effort to improve the availability of high-quality broadband across Oregon is important for the well-being of our local communities and their economic growth. We encourage you to participate in the Oregon Broadband Assessment and to let others know about it.

The deadline to share your input is December 15, 2019.


Investing in Education for 11,200 Rural Oregon Students

Distance learning students

Approximately 11,200 rural Oregon students will receive access to distance learning opportunities with the help of nearly $840,000 in grants from USDA Rural Development’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.

Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) will establish a dual-credit distance learning program for rural students in the Columbia River Gorge with help from a $489,623 grant. Specialized classrooms will be developed at 13 high schools in Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler counties in Oregon and in Klickitat and Skamania counties in Washington. Additionally, two broadcasting rooms from which classes will be taught will be created on the CGCC campuses in Hood River and Wasco counties. This multi-year project will initially serve the region's 2,499 high school students and will then be expanded to benefit all 8,096 students in the region's rural schools.

Willamina School District 30J will implement a distance learning program with help from a $340,000 grant from USDA. The program will offer science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classes, telemedicine training, and dual credit options for students in rural Yamhill, Polk, and Tillamook counties, including students from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. Overall, this program will help about 3,100 community members access educational opportunities remotely using telecommunications technology.

Learn more online…


Expanding Rural Electric Infrastructure in Northwest Oregon

Electric transmission lines

West Oregon Electric Cooperative, which serves five counties in northwest Oregon, is receiving $8.48 million through USDA Rural Development’s Electric Infrastructure Loan Program to build and improve 49 miles of electric transmission line.

This electric cooperative was formed by residents in 1944 with assistance from the Rural Electrification Administration, a predecessor to Rural Development. The improvements made with the recent USDA funding will increase the cooperative's distribution capacity and ensure greater reliability of service. Electrical service will also be extended to an additional 79 customers. Learn more online…


Cascade Locks and Amity Receive $7.6 Million to Improve Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Cascade Locks wastewater treatment system

Two rural Oregon towns will improve their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure with the help of $7.6 million in loans and grants from USDA Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Program.

The town of Cascade Locks will upgrade its wastewater treatment system with help from a $3.2 million loan and a $1 million grant from USDA. The current system serving this rural community was built in 1968 and has reached the end of its service life. The upgrades will improve the system's capacity and significantly reduce the volume of sludge that must be hauled to Hood River's wastewater treatment plant for processing. These improvements will also enable Cascade Locks to meet new discharge standards. This infrastructure project will ensure this rural town of 1,144 people has energy-efficient, reliable utility services that meet its needs while protecting water quality in the nearby Columbia River.

The town of Amity is receiving a $1.6 million loan and a $1.8 million grant from USDA to upgrade its municipal drinking water infrastructure. The community's current system needs updates in order to keep pace with increasing demand. Amity will make improvements to the water treatment intake system and install larger pumps to increase the system's capacity. This project will ensure this rural community of 1,670 people has reliable access to clean drinking water for years to come.

Learn more online…


Rural Infrastructure Projects are Under Construction in the Gorge

Two large infrastructure projects funded by USDA Rural Development are currently under construction in the Gorge.

Parkdale membrane bioreactor delivery

Parkdale is replacing a 40-year-old wastewater treatment plant with help from $1.7 million in loans and $4.5 million in grants from Rural Development.

In October, a membrane bioreactor was lowered into the structure for the new treatment plant, marking a significant milestone in the construction of this municipal wastewater project.

This project will ensure the 311 residents of this rural community continue to have access to utility services that meet their needs and protect local water quality for decades to come.

One Community Health construction in Hood River

The nonprofit One Community Health is expanding its Hood River facility to provide additional services and accommodate more patients.

With the help of a $13.2 million low-interest loan provided through USDA’s Community Facilities Program, One Community Health is constructing a new building to increase patient access to medical, dental, enabling, and behavioral services. When complete, the facility will include 20 medical rooms and 18 dental operatories, as well as space to support team-based care and a residency program. With its expended capacity, One Community Health will help thousands more low-income, rural families and farmworkers from both sides of the Columbia River access affordable, high-quality health care services.


Aumsville Improves Safety with New Police Vehicles

Aumsville Police Department's new vehicles

The Aumsville Police Department recently purchased two new vehicles, equipped with dash-mounted computers, with the help of a $36,000 grant from USDA Rural Development.

By buying rather than leasing its police cars, the town will save nearly $20,000 a year on leasing payments. Additionally, the police officers will no longer be restricted in how far they can drive the vehicles, enabling them to respond to additional needs within their community.


Improving Access to Rural Business Loans

B&I recipient REACH, a nonprofit that provides work, rehabilitation, and training for people with disabilities in Klamath Falls

Rural businesses can access capital to expand and improve their operations while lenders can mitigate risks associated with rural business loans using a loan guarantee provided through USDA Rural Development’s Business & Industry (B&I) Program.

Through the B&I Program, businesses in rural communities with a population of 50,000 or less can access credit to grow or make repairs, purchase land and facilities, refinance debt, or purchase equipment when traditional financing is otherwise not available.

Banks that utilize Rural Development’s B&I loan guarantee benefit from increased profitability and liquidity management, expanded loan-making ability, and improved business and community development opportunities.

Those interested in applying can now benefit from significantly reduced turnaround times on most B&I loan guarantee applications in Oregon as loans of up to $5 million can now be approved at the state level. Contact a local staff member today to learn more.


Rural Hotel Reaps Benefits of Going Green

Solar panels on the Hampton Inn & Suites Roseburg

Guests at most hotels never give a second thought to the roof of the building. But at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Roseburg, owner Bruce Hanna is encouraging his guests to learn about the significant environmental impacts being generated out of sight on the hotel’s roof.

Bruce saw many benefits in adopting renewable energy. Becoming a green business would help preserve the natural environment that provides jobs and attracts visitors to southwest Oregon while also reducing the hotel’s utility bill and attracting environment-conscious customers.

However, installing renewable energy systems comes with a high up-front cost that can make going green unattainable for many businesses. Hampton Inn and Suites Roseburg was able to offset some of the initial costs with the help of a Rural Energy for America Program grant from USDA Rural Development.

The hotel was able to install a high-efficiency 94-kilowatt solar array. This state-of-the-art renewable energy system is expected to offset 4 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the next 25 years, the minimum lifespan of the solar panels. That’s the equivalent to planting 44,500 trees or reducing the distance driven in an average car by 6.2 million miles. Learn more online…


Currently Accepting Homeownership and Home Repair Applications

Single family homes in Lafayette, Oregon

USDA Rural Development in Oregon is continuing to accept applications for affordable mortgage loans and home repair loans and grants. While the agency is currently operating under a continuing resolution through December 20, 2019, and program funding levels for the year have not yet been determined, Rural Development will issue certificates of eligibility and continue underwriting applications for financing through the Single Family Housing Programs.

Housing applicants that receive a certificate of eligibility will be well positioned to move forward with their homeownership goals in the near future, but they should not make an offer on a house without talking with a local staff member first as the exact timing of funding availability remains uncertain.

By continuing to process Single Family Housing applications, Rural Development is helping to ensure that applicants will receive their housing loans and grants quickly once program funding becomes available.


Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantee Applications Now Accepted Year-round

Juniper Gardens Apartments in Forest Grove

USDA Rural Development recently issued a final rule eliminating the requirement to publish an annual Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantee Program, commonly known in the housing industry as Section 538.

This rule enables Rural Development to accept and process applications on a continuous basis, including when the Federal Government operates under a continuing resolution, as it is doing now.

This change benefits housing developers who use tax credits and other funding sources to finance properties for low-income residents. Eliminating publication of an annual NOFA will prevent scenarios in which the NOFA is published after the deadline for low-income housing tax credits or other funding programs has passed. Learn more online…

Inside This Edition

Open Application Windows

Solid Waste Management Grants Program
Deadline: December 31, 2019

State and local government entities, nonprofits, federally-recognized tribes, and academic institutions may apply for grants to provide technical assistance or training to help reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources by improving the planning and management of solid waste sites. Learn more…

Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program
Deadline: December 31, 2019

Nonprofits may apply for grants to help provide technical assistance and training in rural areas to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems; help communities prepare applications for water and waste disposal loans and grants; and help associations improve the operation and maintenance of water and waste facilities. Learn more…

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants
Deadline: January 31, 2020

State, tribal, and local governments; institutions of higher education; rural electric cooperatives; and public power entities can apply for technical assistance grants, which the recipients may use to support energy audits and renewable energy development. Learn more…

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program
Letter of Intent Deadline: March 2, 2020
Application Deadline: April 1, 2020

Individuals, corporations, federally-recognized tribes, state and local government entities, cooperatives, associations of agricultural producers, national laboratories, institutions of higher education, and public power entities can apply for loan guarantees to support the commercial-scale development of biofuels that use renewable feedstock. Learn more…

Agriculture Innovation Center Program
Deadline: March 20, 2020

Nonprofits, for-profit corporations, public bodies, and institutions of higher education can apply for technical assistance grants, which the recipients will use to help rural businesses and agricultural producers develop and market value-added agricultural products. Learn more…

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvements
Grant Deadline: March 31, 2020
Loan Guarantee Deadline: Applications accepted year-round

Agricultural producers and rural small businesses can apply for grants and loan guarantees to support renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. Learn more…