USDA Provides Grants for Fire Damage Home Repairs in Rural Arizona

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an opportunity for organizations to obtain funding to aid residents in repairing homes damaged by the Crooks, Pipeline, and Tunnel 2 fires in Arizona during 2022. These grants are targeted at properties located in designated rural and presidentially declared disaster areas, and are part of the USDA’s ongoing commitment to support communities ravaged by natural disasters.

Charlene Fernandez, USDA Rural Development Arizona State Director, underlined the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to offering every possible resource to help Arizona residents rebound after the devastating fires. She highlighted this grant announcement as another means of extending support to the rural residents of Coconino and Yavapai counties, who bore the brunt of these wildfire events.

The funding comes as part of the Housing Preservation Grants program’s supplemental disaster aid, permitting organizations to secure up to $50,000 to assist residents with necessary home repairs due to natural disasters throughout 2022. Eligible entities include state and local governments, federally recognized Tribes, and nonprofit organizations. Individual homeowners, however, are not eligible to apply directly for this funding; instead, they should pursue assistance via the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program.

Successful organizations can utilize the funds to offer grants or low-interest loans that facilitate housing repairs or rehabilitations for low- and very low-income residents. The scope of use for these funds includes repair or replacement of electrical wiring, foundations, roofs, insulation, heating systems, and water/waste disposal systems. Additionally, the funds can aid in implementing accessibility features, purchasing construction materials, and covering administrative expenses up to 20%.

Presidentially declared disaster areas eligible for these funds include Coconino County (affected by Arizona Tunnel 2 Fire, Arizona Pipeline Fire) and Yavapai County (impacted by Arizona Crooks Fire).

Organizations interested in applying must submit their completed preapplications, either on paper or electronically, by 4:30 p.m. local time on June 5, 2023. More information can be found on page 24148 of the April 19, 2023, Federal Register, or by contacting Shelagh McLaughlin at shelagh.mclaughlin@usda.gov or (928) 759-9301 ext. 4.

This funding was made possible through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, a bill advocated for by the Biden-Harris Administration. The funds will remain accessible until completely allocated. The USDA anticipates announcing additional funding opportunities from the bill in the upcoming months, aimed at aiding rural residents in presidentially declared disaster areas affected by natural disasters in 2022. This forthcoming funding will facilitate the repair of water infrastructure and vital community facilities.

For more information about Rural Development’s offerings, which span loans and grants designed to foster economic opportunities, job creation, and improved quality of life in rural areas, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/az. To stay updated with USDA Rural Development, subscribe to their GovDelivery page. Resources for rural communities seeking disaster assistance can be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.