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NMHC seeks inclusion of entire NMI in USDA lending program
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Posted on Dec 28 2011
By Clarissa David
Reporter
Reporter
The Northern Marianas Housing Corp. is seeking the inclusion of the entire CNMI in the implementation of the Substantially Underserved Trust Area provisions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service.
Corporate director Joshua T. Sasamoto reported during yesterday’s board meeting that they included this in the comments they submitted to USDA before the Dec. 13 deadline.
The Rural Utilities Service or RUS, a Rural Development policy, planning and lending agency of the USDA, leads the implementation of the Substantially Underserved Trust Areas or SUTA provisions that give the agency new tools to finance improvements in electric, telecommunications, water, and sewer infrastructure in underserved tribal communities.
RUS issued on Oct. 14 a proposed rule affecting RUS loans and grants to construct, acquire, or improve utility infrastructure among SUTA, which aims to implement Section 906F of the Rural Electrification Act by providing a process for eligible applicants to request SUTA consideration.
“Implementation of the SUTA provision is critical to USDA’s broader efforts to make all programs more accessible to tribal governments and communities, residents of Hawaiian homelands, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders,” the USDA RD website stated.
Sasamoto disclosed that the NMHC sought comments from Gov. Benigno R. Fitial regarding this proposed rule but did not hear back from him.
“Just to be safe, we went ahead and submitted our own comments,” said Sasamoto, adding that the comment period was extended to Jan. 17.
According to Sasamoto, the entire CNMI should be designated as SUTA eligible given that USDA RD already classified Tinian and Rota as underserved communities.
“We’re saying that Saipan also is underserved,” Sasamoto stressed.
