b'A high volume of loan applications and decreased administrative resources created a long wait time for applicants anxious to purchase homes under the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) section 502 loan packaging program, so during 2015 RCAC participated in a pilot program to expedite the loan application and review process. RCAC staff provide training and support to nonprofit housing organizations that want to become 502 loan packagers. RCAC staff also review the packages to make sure they are complete before sending them to USDA for approval. The program was so successful that in 2016 USDA issued a Final Rule to make it permanent. Since 2015, loan processing and closing time has decreased, giving more rural families access to decent and affordable homes.Since the programs inception staffreviewed 755 applications and helped 368 families to secure home loans, representing a total of $72,708,295 in mortgage funds.'