United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is a federal agency dedicated to increasing economic opportunity in rural areas. The Agency is committed to providing Vermonters with an affordable path to home ownership. USDA Rural Development partners with state, local, private, and non-profit agencies to deliver programs that provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in home ownership and repair, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. The United States Forest Service is another part of the USDA, whose mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. In Vermont, its responsibility is for the Green Mountain National Forest.