U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the Department is
making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses
meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally,
agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans
may receive funding under USDA Business & Industry (B&I) CARES Act
Program provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) Act.
"Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is committed to being a
strong partner to rural businesses and agricultural producers and being a
strong supporter of all aspects of the rural economy," Secretary Perdue
said. "Ensuring more rural agricultural producers are able to gain access
to much-needed capital in these unprecedented times is a cornerstone of that
commitment."
In addition to expanding eligibility to certain agricultural producers, the
changes Secretary Perdue announced today allow USDA to:
** Provide 90 percent guarantees on B&I CARES Act Program loans;
** Set the application and guarantee fee at two percent of the loan;
** Accept appraisals completed within two years of the loan application date;
** Not require discounting of collateral for working capital loans, and
** Extend the maximum term for working capital loans to 10 years.
B&I CARES Act Program loans must be used as working capital to prevent,
prepare for or respond to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The loans
may be used only to support rural businesses, including agricultural producers,
that were in operation on Feb. 15, 2020.
USDA intends to consider applications in the order they are received. However,
the Department may assign priority points to projects if the demand for funds
exceeds availability.
Eligible applicants may contact their local USDA Rural Development State Office
in the state where the project is located.