USDA provides nearly $6 million in disaster aid to Kansas

Washington - 8/23/2007 - Up to $5.9 million in aid from the United States Department of Agriculture will be available to a Kansas town and surrounding areas leveled by a powerful tornado in late May that left over 400 animals displaced.

"These funds will help Greensburg area residents rebuild their homes and businesses and provide critical assistance for the area's recovery," says Mike Johanns, agriculture secretary. "USDA's financial support will help support the financing of loans and grants to construct more than 300 single-family homes and 200 rental units for Greensburg residents."

More than 90 percent of the town was heavily damaged or destroyed by a powerful storm and resulting tornados that ravaged the area on May 4. That same percentage of Greensburg's 1,500 residents have moved to other communities because of near total destruction of housing in the area.

USDA Rural Development will repair affected homes, assist with recovery planning for the area and work to increase economic opportunity for rural residents. The department has invested more than $76 billion nationwide since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development and community and technology infrastructure.