Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73

§6616 Loans to economically disadvantaged rural communities

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 95— - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES › § 6616

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can make loans to economically disadvantaged rural communities so they can pay for technical help and services to make and carry out action plans. This can include planning to fix or improve local facilities that could create jobs or income, expanding infrastructure and services so places that rely on National Forest land can diversify, and starting new businesses not tied to Forest land. The Secretary sets the loan interest rate, but it cannot be higher than the current average market yield on comparable U.S. marketable government securities plus up to 1 percent, rounded to the nearest one-eighth of 1 percent.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §6616

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary shall establish, may make loans to economically disadvantaged rural communities for the purposes of securing technical assistance and services to aid in the development and implementation of action plans, including planning for—
(1)improving existing facilities in the community that may generate employment or revenue;
(2)expanding existing infrastructure, facilities, and services to capitalize on opportunities to diversify economies now dependent on National Forest System land resources; and
(3)supporting the development of new industries or commercial ventures unrelated to National Forest System land resources.
(b)The interest rates on a loan made pursuant to this section shall be as determined by the Secretary, but not in excess of the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the maturity of such loan, plus not to exceed 1 percent, as determined by the Secretary, and rounded to the nearest one-eighth of 1 percent.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1999—Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 106–113 substituted “National Forest System land resources” for “national forest resources”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 6616

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73