rural development & customer...
TRANSCRIPT
Rural Development & Customer Experience
February 2020
Rural Development & Customer Experience
Creation of Innovation
Center
OneRDGuaranteed
Loan Initiative
Partnerships Division
E-Connectivity
Outreach
Creation of the Innovation Center
…The RD Innovation Center will be tasked with policy and trend analysis, data analysis and program outcomes measurement, identifying best practices, promoting multi-sector partnerships and capacity at the local level, and driving synergy between resources. These activities will support the goal of ensuring rural communities are well-equipped with a set of economic development tools to address challenges, seize new opportunities, and drive rural prosperity.
- Secretary Sonny Perdue
3
Innovation Center
Working together to develop fresh, creative solutions – Innovate!
• Centralization of key Reg Management functions to better support RD programs
• Building and leveraging Partnerships to increase impact
• Using Data Analytics to enhance evidence-based decision making 4
OneRD Guaranteed Loan Initiative
One RD Guaranteed Loan Initiative
Benefits
Supports OneUSDA Initiative
Standardize Documents Across Programs
Improved Program Delivery
Reduces Burden on Lenders, Applicants and Staff
Better Customer Experience
Business &
Industry
(B&I)
OneRD
Guaranteed
Loan Initiative
Water & Waste
(WEP)
Rural Energy
for America
(REAP)
Community
Facilities
(CF)
OneRD Guarantee: Customer Experience Priorities
Lenders noted three priority areas necessary to achieve a positive lender guaranteed loan experience
Timeliness
Transparency & Ease
USDA Knowledge &
Accessibility
Lenders want an easily accessible point of contact to be able to direct their questions:
• USDA staff with experience and knowledge about their specific program, irrespective of where they are
located (e.g., regional USDA SME teams)
• Available USDA contact list and contact information
Lenders desire a seamless and consistent application process:
• Consistency in regulations and interpretations across states
• Clearly-delineated application requirements and user-friendly portal for application submission and
tracking
Lenders need quicker turnaround times and clear timelines:
• Preferred timeline of 30 days from initial filing to conditional commitment issuance (60 days max), and 2
days from conditional commitment to issuance of Loan Note Guarantee
• Clarity on expected timeline and stages of review (e.g., National Office Loan Committees)
Innovation Center
Partnerships Division
Partnerships Division
Jamie Davenport, Director
Strategic Engagement
Kristen Grifka, Chief
Community Solutions
Vacant, Chief
Convening stakeholders
Facilitating partner connections
Developing and supporting strategic engagement plans
Innovation Center
Partnerships Division
Native American Coordinator
Tedd Buelow
5 staff 16 staff
The Division supports program delivery by engaging internal and external
stakeholders to: 1) identify resources and approaches to support rural prosperity;
and 2) implement and coordinate national economic development initiatives.
Innovation Center
Partnerships Division
Some examples of our work --
Convening Stakeholders
Developing and Implementing Strategic
Engagement Plans
Facilitating Partner Connections
• OneRD & Farm Bill listening sessions
• OneRD Human Experience Lab• RESP Roundtable • Water Quality Task Force• DOE/USDA Access to Capital
Summits & MOU coordination• Broadband capacity building
workshops & STEM listening sessions
• Innovation Matters (bi-weekly) • e-Connectivity @ USDA toolkit• Tribal toolkit• Workforce development
roundtables/summits in NY, AR, and KS; toolkit and more events in progress
• Recreation economy planning resources & toolkit in progress
• Cooperative development resources
• REDI economic development planning assistance for 48 regions
• Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD)
• Opportunity Zones • RD Customer Experience
Strategy
E-Connectivity
• ReConnect Loans and
Grants
• Telecommunications
Infrastructure Loans
• Rural Broadband Access
Loans
• Community Connect
Grants
• Distance Learning &
Telemedicine Grants
USDA Rural Broadband Programs
ReConnect Outreach Efforts – Round 1
Let’s Connect!
Jacki Ponti-Lazaruk
Chief Innovation Officer
Jamie Davenport
Director, Partnerships Division
Jim Barham
Acting Director, Data Analytics Division