State USDA director expects more rural aid in Louisiana By James Ronald Skains "In 2008, Louisiana was fourth in the nation in Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program with over $50 millions in loans,' Clarence Hawkins, the new USDA State Director told the Piney Woods Journal. "We expect the results from 2009 to be a little higher." "Louisiana led the nation in Guaranteed Rural Housing Program loans in 2008 with 3,840 home loans totaling $486,829,899," Hawkins pointed out. "Totals for this housing program in 2009 should exceed $500,000,000. With another $22,000,000 in multi-Family Housing Programs and over $78,000,000 in Community Programs, the USDA plays a big role in the financial well being of rural Louisiana," Hawkins added. "As the new USDA Director for Louisiana, I want to see us play even a bigger and more positive role in helping rural Louisiana." Prior to becoming USDA director for Louisiana, Hawkins served 20 years as Mayor of Bastrop in northeast Louisiana. "As Mayor of Bastrop, I saw first hand how a community can be devastated with the closing of major industries in a rural community," said Hawkins, a former teacher in the Morehouse Parish School System. "International Paper closed their mill in Bastrop in 2007. This created a huge hole in the employment in the area," Hawkins pointed out. "IP not only directly employed hundreds of people in Bastrop at the mill, but also throughout the forest industry in the northeast region of Louisiana." "At one time, Bastrop had a large clothing manufacturing facility," Hawkins noted. "However, after NAFTA came into effect, Jordache Clothing Company moved their manufacturing plant to Mexico causing 900 people to lose their jobs. Having lived through these economic calamities first hand in Bastrop, I am so thankful to be involved with the USDA that gives me so many wonderful financial opportunities to rural communities to help them develop not only new businesses but also their infrastructure," Hawkins explained. Hawkins graduated from high school in St. Helena Parish which is considered to be the most rural parish in southeast Louisiana, ranking near the bottom in per capita income in the state. After finishing high school in St. Helena Parish, Hawkins earned a degree in Education from Grambling State University. Later, Hawkins earned a Master's Degree in Education form Northeast Louisiana University. "One thing that I have learned over my career is the importance of team work in working together with everyone to solve our problems," Hawkins, a 20 year veteran of the school systems said. "The 1960's and '70's were difficult transition years for our educational system in Louisiana. By working together, we were able to get through those transition years in the Morehouse School System," Hawkins pointed out. "The same thing was true during my early tenure as Mayor of Bastrop. I was the first black Mayor of Bastrop. Everyone was watching me to see where my priorities were," Hawkins acknowledged. "Once everyone saw that I was dedicated to the good of the community and improving life for everyone in the community, I was reelected Mayor four times." "I think people soon realized my philosophy was that everyone must do well," Hawkins noted. "I emphasized inclusion, service for all, and quality of life." During the period of time between when Hawkins retired from the school system and was elected Mayor, he worked for Horace Mann Insurance Company specializing in insurance, investment and retirement plans. While a teacher, Hawkins taught both civics and government, served as assistant principal, Curriculum Supervisor, and co-Director of personnel for Morehouse parish School system. "In the business and industry loans, we can reach across the entire spectrum of businesses from Mom and Pop businesses to large manufacturing facilities," Hawkins explained. "On the other side, we can finance new homes as well as renovations and energy efficiency projects for homeowners," Hawkins added. "We recently helped fund a Charter School down in Avoyelles Parish. We can also fund rural hospitals, water and sewer systems, streets, fire and police, and public buildings," Hawkins said in elaborating on the USDA programs available to the rural Louisiana communities. "Also, daycare centers, senior citizen facilities and libraries are eligible for USDA funding." "Our total funding here in Louisiana should be higher for 2009 and 2010 because of the stimulus monies," Hawkins, who was also the first president of the Black Municipal Elected Officials organization noted. "In the past, telephone companies servicing rural areas have received financial help from the USDA." Hawkins stated. "Without access to basic services which now includes broadband, rural communities can not grow." Since 2001, USDA Rural Development has invested nearly $115 billion in business development, infrastructure, community facilities, and rural housing. Some 60 million people live in rural areas and most of them don't farm. Traditional rural industries such as agriculture, forestry, and mining are still important and programs for these industries are administered under the USDA Farm Service Agency. In Louisiana, USDA is divided into four areas plus the state office in Alexandria (318-473-7921). An office in Monroe (318-343-4467) serves 16 northeast Louisiana parishes. The Natchitoches area office (318-352-7100) serves 13 northwest and central Louisiana parishes. |