Rural Development

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural communities. Together, America prospers.

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

The clock is ticking!
Applications for the USDA’s $60 million MPPEP Phase 4 grant are due on August 7, 2026. Don’t miss out on funding for facility renovations & retrofits, major equipment purchases, and capacity expansion.

Head to https://t.co/9DH0VZLyL2 to submit your electronic application.

#USDA #BeefIndustry #MeatProcessing

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

The Trump Administration has invested $10.8 billion to help 55,000 people buy, repair, or build modest homes through USDA Rural Development. Learn more about our programs at https://t.co/Y60lOdgyAI

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

Rural Development is opening doors to affordable homeownership through our Guaranteed Loan Program. Applicants can buy or build a home with no down payment. Learn more at https://t.co/pgDEmPzHRi

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

Happy #HomeownershipMonth! @usdaRD is proud to help make homeownership a reality for rural communities across America. All month long, follow us to learn more about our programs and meet people who have used our loans and grants to become #USDAHomeowners.

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, fellow @USDA officials Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden, Rural Utilities Service Administrator Karl Elmshaeuser, and Assistant Administrator Chris McLean, and @NRECANews CEO Jim Matheson spoke and celebrated with guests at the USDA’s Whitten Building on May 27, 2026, during a ceremony celebrating ’90 Years of Investing in Rural Electric Infrastructure’ to commemorate the 1936 Rural Electrification Act.

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

From 10% to 100%

In 1934, less than 11% of U.S. farms had electricity. By 1952, almost all of them were connected. This rapid growth was fueled by REA’s commitment to providing low-interest loans for local cooperatives. We’ve transitioned from kerosene to clean energy, but our mission to serve rural America remains unchanged!

#REA90 #InfrastructureMatters #RuralRevival

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

Happy 90th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Act! This historic effort is the driving force behind rural cooperatives bringing power to their communities. USDA’s Rural Utilities Service carries this mission forward. We celebrate and honor this historic effort! https://t.co/HX7hy6a6NB

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

More Than Just Lights: The Telephone Era

Did you know the REA didn’t stop at power? In 1949, Congress expanded its mission to include rural telephone service, helping to end the isolation of farm families. This expansion laid the groundwork for the modern communications networks supported today by USDA Rural Development's RUS.

#REA90 #InfrastructureMatters #RuralRevival

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

Happy 90th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Act! This historic effort is the driving force behind rural cooperatives bringing power to their communities. USDA’s Rural Utilities Service carries this mission forward. We celebrate and honor this historic effort!

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

Bridging the New Digital Divide

In 1935, the "gap" was electricity. Today, it’s high-speed internet. Just as REA brought light to the country, USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is now aggressively building fiber-optic networks to ensure rural communities aren't left behind in the digital age.

#REA90 #InfrastructureMatters #RuralRevival

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

The Power of the Cooperative

When private utilities thought rural areas were too expensive to serve, REA empowered farmers to form their own nonprofit cooperatives. Today, those same co-ops work with USDA Rural Development to innovate energy solutions.

#REA90 #InfrastructureMatters #RuralRevival

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

The 1994 Transformation: REA to RUS

A major milestone! In 1994, REA was abolished and its functions were assumed by the newly established Rural Utilities Service (RUS). This shift wasn't just a name change; it was a commitment to manage a broader range of essential infrastructure, including water and waste treatment.

#REA90 #InfrastructureMatters #RuralRevival

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

Transforming Daily Life

Imagine a world where every gallon of water was hand-pumped. REA brought electric pumps, refrigeration, and washing machines to the farm home, saving families countless hours of labor. Today, RUS continues this work by funding modern water systems and waste disposal for healthy communities.

#REA90 #InfrastructureMatters #RuralRevival

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

The USDA Rural Development program provides the funding, loans, and grants that small business owners need to grow. From upgrading equipment to expanding storefronts, we are investing in the entrepreneurs who keep our towns unique.

Let’s build a stronger local economy together - https://t.co/LxR1LLY3n5

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

This Memorial Day, USDA Rural Development pauses to remember the brave men and women who laid down their lives in service to our nation. Their courage and sacrifice protect the freedoms we cherish every single day.

Many of these heroes called small towns and family farms home. We are forever grateful to the service members who left the fields, main streets, and neighborhoods of rural America to defend our country.

Today, we honor their legacy by remaining deeply committed to the communities they loved, working every day to ensure rural families, veterans, and small towns continue to grow, thrive, and remain strong.

To all who have loved and lost a hero, we offer our profound gratitude and respect.

#MemorialDay #HonorTheFallen #RuralAmerica

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

Leadership and Vision

From the vision of FDR to the modern leadership at USDA, the goal has remained the same: To improve the quality of life and promote economic development in rural America. We honor the pioneers who saw potential in every rural acre.

#REA90 #InfrastructureMatters #RuralRevival

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

Supporting the World

Electricity transformed the U.S. into a global leader in agriculture. From electric milking to automated irrigation, the REA (now Rural Utilities Service) provided the tools for farmers to feed the world more efficiently than ever before.

#REA90 #InfrastructureMatters #RuralRevival

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

The Journey to the Next 90 Years

From its start in 1935 as a temporary agency to its role today as a cornerstone of USDA Rural Development, the legacy started by REA has never stopped evolving. We are proud of our 90-year journey and look forward to powering the future of rural America!

#REA90 #InfrastructureMatters #RuralRevival

[Rural Development @usdaRD]

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Act (REA), a milestone that completely transformed daily life across rural America.. Read more on our LinkedIn page - https://t.co/oiI92qqeWa

[Dept. of Agriculture @USDA]

🚨 Happening live TODAY, May 19 at 11:30 AM ET: @SecRollins will host a press conference discussing fertilizer policy.

▶️ https://t.co/VVUCgG8tQ8