Byrne Applauds Loan Program for Rural Communities

Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) today applauded an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development regarding their Community Facilities Relending Program.

United Bank, based in Atmore, Alabama, has been selected to serve as a lender for the new Community Facilities Relending Program. The program allows USDA Rural Development to make direct loans to community lending institutions who then re-loan the funds to eligible applicants to acquire, maintain, build, or renovate essential community facilities.

United Bank’s loan totals $40,000,000, which will now be re-loaned to local communities. This is the largest Community Facilities Relending Program loan in the United States.

The program targets rural communities with high and persistent poverty rates. Public bodies, community-based nonprofit corporations, and federally recognized tribes are eligible to apply for the loan program. The specific funds will be available to counties in Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida.

Byrne said: “I applaud the efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture to help our rural communities in Southwest Alabama. These rural communities face many distinct challenges, and this loan program will allow them to make critical investments in infrastructure to improve the quality of life for local residents.

“I’m especially pleased a local bank, United Bank in Atmore, has been selected to serve as the community lending institution, and I look forward to following the impact the program has on Alabama’s rural communities.”

Funds from the loan program can be used on a range of essential community facilities or equipment including healthcare facilities, town halls, courthouses, child care centers, fire departments, police vehicles, libraries, food pantries, and more.