Rural Development invests $188 million into Nevada in 2016

The federal rural development program invested more than $188 million in rural Nevada during Fiscal 2016.

The money was put into projects ranging from housing and community facilities to water systems and businesses.

Sarah Adler, head of the USDA’s Rural Development program in Nevada said during their eight years of operation, total investment was more than $1.35 billion.

She said the largest portion of that is in business and home loan guarantees. Another $69 million came in the form of rental assistance to low income rural Nevadans living in apartments.

She said in 2016, more than 600 families were able to buy homes through the home loan program. Affordable housing investment totaled $133.4 million during the year to buy, repair or rent housing

The Water and Environmental Program obligated more than $20 million to build a wastewater treatment plant in Winnemucca and the Community Facilities Program put more than $16 million into community facilities including the Churchill County Detention Center.

The Business and Industry program put $18 million loan guarantees including $8.2 million for the Holiday Inn Express in Elko and $3 million for the Comfort Inn in Fallon.

Adler said the agency’s focus is in communities where unemployment is high and household income low. Nearly all of Nevada is eligible except metropolitan Carson City, Washoe and Clark counties.