Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Disaster Relief Is Available

John Edwards, state director for Arkansas USDA rural development,announced plans to provide disaster relief for eligible borrowers livng in the areas damaged by storms over the weekend.

USDA Rural Development, formerly known as the Farmers Home Administration, provides financing for housing, businesses and infrastructure program in areas with a population of 50,000 or less.

Edwards announced that effective immediately, people affected by the storm who have their homes financed by USDA are eligible to have their mortgage payments suspended until they get back on their feet.

The last thing these people need right now is to worry about their mortgage payments, Edwards said. President Clinton and agriculture secretary Dan Glickman want us to do everything in our power to assist the people whose homes were lost or damaged in the storms, Edwards noted.

Rural development will have representatives available at FEMA assistance sites throughout Arkansas to assist borrowers with their payments. These representatives will be available to answer questions regarding all rural development programs that could be of assistance to storm survivors.

Individuals may also call the Rural Development office in Little Rock at 1-800-292-8308 for assistance.