News : BDG, USDA plan housing meeting, Oct. 8

Benton Development Group will be hosing the USDA Rural Development for an informational meeting regarding housing programs available to Benton County residents. The meeting will be taking place on Wednesday, October 8th at 7:00pm in the Van Horne Community Room.

USDA Rural Development works to improve the quality of life in rural areas. With their housing programs, they are able to provide loans and grants for housing and community facilities. Their funding is provided for single family homes, apartments , housing for farm laborers, child care centers, libraries, and much more. USDA loans and grants are available to individuals, nonprofits, private agencies, and public agencies.

Topics to be Discussed:

Direct and Guarantee Home Loans – This program is available to families and individuals who are interested in buying, building, improving or repairing an eligible home as the applicant’s permanent resident in a rural community.

Direct and Guarantee Loans for Rental Housing – This program is available to individuals, limited profits and non-profits. This loan is to be used for new construction or substantial rehab of at least $6500/unit with acquisition in rural communities.

Home Improvement and Repair Loans and Grants – This program is available to families or individuals who currently own their home in a rural community that are in need of making the following improvements: repair/replace roof, winterizing, purchase or repair of heating system, structural corrections, disability accessibility, water/sewer corrections.

Housing Preservations Grants – This program is available for public bodies and non-profits. The program is used to operate a program which finances repair and rehabilitation activities for single family homes and rental properties in rural communities.

Mutual Self-Help Housing Grants – This program is available to non-profit organizations and public bodies. The intent of this program is to for the non-profit organization or public body to provide technical assistance to qualify and supervise small groups of families to build each other’s homes. These families obtain Direct Home Loan financing through the USDA.

Benton Development Group would encourage individuals, financial institutions, realtors, property manages and anyone interested in these topics to attend. This meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Emily and the BDG office.