USDA invests in rural community facilities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced July 23 it is investing $17.4 million in 41 projects that will provide essential services for rural communities in 22 states.
USDA is making the investments through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. The funding helps rural areas purchase, construct or improve essential facilities. An essential community facility is one that provides a necessary service for the orderly development or operation of a rural community, such as schools, libraries, health care facilities, day care centers and infrastructure improvements.
Regional projects include the following.
In Iowa, United Community Health Center, Inc., of Storm Lake, is receiving a $1.9 million loan to renovate and expand a health center serving approximately 4,000 people. The current facility lacks adequate exam rooms and sufficient space for the staff to operate at peak efficiency. The expanded number of exam rooms will improve the flow of business by allowing the staff to clean rooms and collect patient information prior to the physician’s consultation. United has also increased its behavioral health services and needs additional treatment space, especially for patients who misuse opioids or other substances.
In Kansas, Unified School District #380 Vermillion, received an $88,000 loan and $47,000 grant to purchase safety equipment for school buildings located in Frankfort and Centralia. The equipment will consist of security cameras, buzz-in equipment, key fobs and locks for doors. The new equipment will monitor the facilities and provide security measures for students, teachers and administrative staff during school hours. It will also provide protection from unwanted individuals attempting to enter the facility. Population to be served by this project is 2,744.
In Nebraska, the Wahoo Public Buildings and Grounds, is the recipient of a $691,000 loan with terms of 40 years at 3.875 rate of interest. This Rural Development investment will be used to buy an existing building in Wahoo for the City Maintenance Department. The project will include minor modifications to the structure, including: restroom renovations to meet Americans with Disability Act compliance, a meeting room, a locker/break room, and storage space. Additionally, project funding will be used to buy a pre-fabricated building and appropriate fencing for the Street Department’s salt storage needs. The project will result in a joint service center for all city departments—one building with a lean-to (13,750 square feet), areas for community equipment and material storage, a land parcel (59,500 square feet), a salt storage pre-fabricated shed and the minor interior modifications to the building noted above.
In South Dakota, the Dupree Volunteer Fire Department in Dupree, is receiving a $10,000 loan and a $50,000 grant to purchase a heavy duty pickup chassis, flatbed, motor, tank, and pump for the construction of a new wild land fire truck, as well as two new heaters for the fire station. The Dupree Volunteer Fire Department covers a large response area of rural country in Ziebach County, South Dakota. The new truck will replace an aging model and improve the service area coverage for fire suppression activities. The two new heaters will replace old, inefficient heaters and allow the department to keep the equipment warm in the wintertime at a reduced cost.
Also in South Dakota, Buffalo County Rural Fire Protection District #1 in Gann Valley, is receiving a $70,400 loan and a $42,600 grant to finance a new brush truck. The District has provided high quality fire protection services for nearly 40 years to Buffalo County, the Crow Creek Indian Reservation, and surrounding communities and counties. The addition of the new brush truck will greatly aid in responding to prairie, equipment, and residential fires as well as controlled burns. In addition, the need for fire services has increased substantially due to the drought conditions that have plagued South Dakota for the last couple of years. A new brush truck will alleviate additional strain on the fire crew, reduce response time, and utilize the latest technology to provide the highest quality of fire protection services for the district.
The projects will help improve the quality of life for more than 220,000 rural residents in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
