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Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§6616 Loans to Economically Disadvantaged Rural Communities

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can make loans to economically disadvantaged rural communities to pay for technical help and services to make and carry out action plans. These plans can improve local job- or revenue-producing facilities, expand infrastructure to diversify economies that rely on National Forest System land resources, or support new industries not tied to those lands. The Secretary sets loan terms and interest, but the rate cannot exceed the current average market yield on comparable U.S. government securities plus up to 1 percent, and it will be rounded to the nearest one-eighth of 1 percent.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §6616

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
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)
(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)Interest rates
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 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110