Dec 20, 2021
In the final part of our four-part series on rural funding,
produced in collaboration with and supported by Thomas USAF,
Michelle chats with Thomas Kimsey, President and CEO of Thomas USAF
Group, who manages more than $100 Million annually in loan
production. Michelle also welcomes Dr. Karama Neal, who is the USDA
Administrator for the Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Prior to
her time at the USDA, Dr. Neal served as president of Southern
Bancorp Community Partners, a nonprofit community development loan
fund and financial development organization promoting economic
mobility in rural Arkansas and Mississippi. She spent twelve years
at Southern and led their small business, consumer and other
development lending, consumer and savings focused public policy
work, and a variety of financial development services to help low
and moderate wealth families and communities build wealth. Finally,
Michelle chats with Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, who leads the USDA's
Rural Development Innovation Center as the Chief Innovation
Officer. She has nearly 13 years of leadership experience at USDA
Rural Development, leading the Telecommunications and Water
Programs for more than 11 years, and leading critical agency-wide
efforts to streamline programs and increase the agency's impact in
rural areas. Michelle, Thomas and Dr. Neal chat about promoting
competition and strengthening America’s food supply chain, discuss
details on the new $800 million allocated to provide economic
relief to biofuel producers and renewable fuel markets effected by
the pandemic, and how rural lenders work with rural borrowers, and
how they interface with USDA Rural Development. During Michelle’s
chat with Jacki Ponti-Lazaruk, they discuss some of the challenges
that USDA's Rural Development Innovation Center face, the
opportunities that have risen out of the pandemic, as well as the
future outlook for the program in 2022, and 2023. If you would like
more information on the various programs discussed on the podcast,
please visit the links below:
Biofuel Producer Program:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/biofuel-producer-program
Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program:
https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/12/09/usda-launches-loan-guarantee-program-create-more-market
Face Shield Story:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/success-stories/rural-development-project-uses-3d-printing-fight-against-covid-19-spread
This episode and the entire four-part series are sponsored by the
Thomas USAF Group. With 40 years of experience working in the
government guaranteed loan space, Thomas USAF Group is uniquely
positioned to offer exceptional services to meet your business
needs. For more information, visit www.thomasusaf.com.