Skip to main content
Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

USDA says it helped more than 7 million rural residents

A USDA helicopter takes off Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport's Lovell Field in Chattanooga, Tenn., to distribute baited packets of rabies vaccine. The USDA is spending several days dropping bait-coated packets of rabies vaccine from a helicopter across Hamilton and Bradley Counties to combat rabies in raccoons.
A USDA helicopter takes off Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport's Lovell Field in Chattanooga, Tenn., to distribute baited packets of rabies vaccine. The USDA is spending several days dropping bait-coated packets of rabies vaccine from a helicopter across Hamilton and Bradley Counties to combat rabies in raccoons. A USDA helicopter takes off Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport's Lovell Field in Chattanooga, Tenn., to distribute baited packets of rabies vaccine. The USDA is spending several days dropping bait-coated packets of rabies vaccine from a helicopter across Hamilton and Bradley Counties to combat rabies in raccoons.

By Associated Press 3 min read

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Thursday that USDA invested in nearly 400 projects to provide essential services for more than 7 million people in rural areas across the country in Fiscal Year 2017. Tennessee Rural Development State Director Jim Tracy of Shelbyville said he is pleased that Tennessee’s 20 projects span 19 counties with an investment of over $109 million.

“Supporting essential services in Tennessee’s rural communities is vital to the mission of USDA,” Tracy said. “Investments we’ve made to improve the quality of life for our citizens include fire and police stations, schools, hospitals, and transitional housing for those addicted to opioids.”

USDA infused $1.5 billion into rural areas in 2017 through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program for projects such as schools, libraries, municipal centers, first responder vehicles and equipment, social service buildings, recreational activities and other community needs. These investments are helping improve the lives of nearly 7 million rural residents.

Tennessee projects are located in the following counties: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hickman, Jefferson, Johnson, Monroe, Rhea, Robertson, Weakley and White.

Below are some examples of projects USDA helped finance in 2017: