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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Infrastructure

Mar 17, 2026 - Describes Auburn Rural Studio, an architecture program based in rural Alabama. Describes the student-driven community development work over 30 years and the local benefits such as affordable housing. Notes that the program considers not just housing but also community resources such as reliable wastewater systems and public spaces.
Mar 9, 2026 - Announcement from the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service of guarantee fee rates, guarantee percent for guaranteed loans, the periodic retention fee, and fees for the issuance of the loan note guarantee prior to construction completion for FY 2026 for the following loans programs: 1) Community Facilities, 2) Water and Waste Disposal (WWD), 3) Business and Industry, and 4) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). These fees are effective on October 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 2, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) seeking comments on proposed revisions to an information collection package for Rural Energy for America (REAP) program, which provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Comments are due by May 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 24, 2026 - Describes the challenges small communities face with maintaining water systems with focus on two communities in Arkansas and Louisiana. Discusses funding, workforce, and aging infrastructure as barriers to consistently providing clean drinking water.
Source: WWNO, NPR
Feb 23, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking comments on unmet transportation infrastructure needs in rural communities. Information collected will be used to inform rural transportation policy and the development of future initiatives through DOT's Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative. ROUTES addresses the transportation infrastructure needs of rural and Tribal communities by developing user-friendly tools and information, aggregating DOT resources, and providing direct technical assistance to connect rural and Tribal communities with the funding, financing, and outreach resources available. Comments are due within 60 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 2, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) providing application requirements for funding reserved under the Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) priority program. USDA is implementing SECD in fiscal year 2026 by reserving funds from the covered program. This notice describes the requirements by which RD will consider projects eligible for covered programs' reserved funds and information needed to apply.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Strategic Economic and Community Development Program
Jan 27, 2026 - The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will hold a virtual listening session on February 11, 2026, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern regarding the use of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program funds. The listening session will gather input from stakeholders to inform NTIA's future planning and policy development. Meeting materials will be available on NTIA's BroadbandUSA website.Pre-registration is required.
Source: Federal Register