Community Development Funding Opportunities through the USDA Webinar

This webinar has been rescheduled for March 16th as we experienced technical difficulties.
Small towns and rural areas often are underserved when it comes to accessing capital. Infrastructure, access to affordable housing, finding resources for community projects, and job creation are challenges many communities experience.
USDA Rural Development is the federal agency tasked with assisting rural America. In fiscal year 2015 alone, we provided more than $780 million in loans and grants to rural communities in Ohio. Our programs help businesses, communities, non-profits and individuals build capacity, create wealth and reduce poverty.
USDA Rural Development specialists have vast experience identifying partners and then working together toward the betterment of Ohio’s rural communities. We look forward to discussing how our programs may be able to help your community.

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Presenter Bios

Community Development Specialist Vince Paumier
Vince began his career with USDA Ohio Rural Development in 1983 and has held numerous positions within the organization. In 2015, Vince was appointed as the Ohio Community Development Specialist. He dovetails with the Rural Development Management Team to leverage statewide internal and external resources to enhance Community Development. His primary goals are to improve capacity with partners, build wealth in rural areas, and reduce poverty in areas of scarcity. Vince ensures Rural Development funding is responsibly allocated by working closely with elected officials, non-profit organizations, community foundations, private sector lenders, for-profit businesses and other community development advocates.
Prior to his current position, Vince worked in the Guaranteed Rural Housing program as a Senior Housing Specialist. His major responsibilities included program marketing, lender training, underwriting and compliance reviews. Vince was part of the Ohio team that consistently ranks in the top ten nationally in both loan production and portfolio performance.
Vince is a graduate of The Ohio State University and is an avid fan of their sports teams. In addition, Vince is active in several local community organizations, including the Granville Township zoning board, Kiwanis, Granville Community Foundation and open space committee. In his spare time, Vince enjoys staying active by biking, running and swimming.
Rural Housing Program Director Gerald Arnott
Gerald Arnott began his career with USDA in 1983 and has served as the Ohio Rural Development Housing Program Director since 1995. On average, Ohio Rural Development provides more than $600 million in housing loans, grants, and loan guarantees each year. Ohio’s housing portfolio exceeds 40,000 units of housing and has an outstanding loan commitment of more than $2.7 billion.
Mr. Arnott also currently serves on the advisory committee for the Council of Rural Housing and Development of Ohio, as well as the Ohio Housing Finance Agency Annual Plan Advisory Board. He was raised on a farm in Highland County and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University, where he graduated in 1982, majoring in Agricultural Economics.
Business Programs Specialist Cindy Musshel
Cindy Musshel began her at USDA Ohio Rural Development in 2008 as a student trainee in the Guaranteed Rural Housing program. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2009 with a degree in Agricultural Business and Applied Economics, minoring in Consumer Affairs. After graduation, Cindy joined the Ohio Rural Development team full-time as a Guaranteed Housing Technician. She moved to Business and Cooperative Programs in 2010. In 2014, Cindy was promoted to Business and Cooperative Programs Specialist and last year became the program lead for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG). RBDG is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas with fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. When she’s not working, Cindy enjoys the outdoors and spending time with family and friends.