NOTICE OF COMMENTS RECEIVED ON REVIEW OFELIGIBLE AREA MAPSFOR USDA RURAL HOUSING PROGRAMS

USDA, Rural Development has received and reviewed comments on areas being reviewed for continued eligibility under the USDA, Rural Housing programs. During the review, all comments were considered.

Below is a summary of the comments received for the rural area review in the State of Mississippi.

Mississippi

  1. Byramand parts of Pearl –The Agency received several comments requesting that

Byramand parts of Pearl remain eligible for SFH assistance.

  1. Seven (7) comments were received in writing stating requesting that these areas be “grandfathered in” allowing 100% financing to remain in the area for moderate income home buyers. These comments stated that the removal of Byram and parts of Pearlfrom USDA eligibility would be tantamount to going backwards. Removal of these areas would greatly impact the market area for realtors and home buyers. These areas are great for people who want to work, live and grow their families while living in a community that is grounded in families and opportunity.
  1. Long Beach–The Agency received one comment concerning the continued eligibility of

Long Beach, Ms.

  1. The one (1) comment stated that USDA, Rural Housing was vital to the community and helped meet the need of low and moderate individuals in the Long Beach area that may not have qualified otherwise.
  1. Ocean Springs – The Agency received one phone call concerning the removal of

OceanSprings from the eligible area.

  1. The one (1) phone call stated that the continuance of Ocean Springs’s eligibility under the GRH program would assist in rebuilding the coastal communities that were devastated due to the recent hurricanes.

Based on the review of the areas within the State of Mississippi, using the 2015 American Community Survey data, comments received, and rural area guidance located in Handbook HB-1-3550, Chapter 5, the rural eligibility designation is proposed to change for the following areas:

The city limits of the following communities will be ineligible for USDA, Rural Housing programs in the State of Mississippi:

Biloxi, D’Iberville, Greenville, Hattiesburg, Horn Lake, Long Beach, Ocean Springs, Olive Branch, Pascagula, Pearl,and Tupelo.

The city limits of the following communities will be eligible for USDA, Rural Housing programs in the State of Mississippi:

Byram, Flowood, Hernando, and Richland.

Areas that will now be considered as no longer being rural or rural in character can be viewed at by clicking on either "Single Family Housing Guaranteed", "Single Family Housing Direct" or Multi-Family Housing" and then selecting "Proposed Ineligible Areas" tab.

The proposed changes will become effective on June 4, 2018. Comments should be sent to

. For details, or questions about specific changes, please contact theMississippiRural Development Housing Program Staff at (601) 965-4325.

Jackson, MS March 14, 2018