The Rural Development Administration (RDA) was a USDA agency established by the 1990 farm bill (P.L. 101-624, Sec. 2302), amending the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.), to administer FmHA community and business programs and other USDA rural development programs. After a brief period named "Rural Economic and Community Development" (P.L. 103-354 Subtitle C), RDA was superseded by the Office of Rural Development following the 1994 reorganization of USDA authorized by P.L. 103-354.
On October 13, 1994, the Department of Agriculture was reorganized under the Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. Under that act, USDA Rural Development was created to administer the former Farmers Home Administration's (FmHA) non-farm financial programs for rural housing, community facilities, water and waste disposal, and rural businesses. The former Rural Electrification Administration's (REA) utility programs were also consolidated within Rural Development.
"About RD". Rural Development. December 7, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2022. https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd ↩
Dispatch, Brainerd (January 5, 2022). "USDA funding available to help low-income individuals and families buy or repair homes". Brainerd Dispatch. Retrieved January 28, 2022. https://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/usda-funding-available-to-help-low-income-individuals-and-families-buy-or-repair-homes-1 ↩