Health Clinics and Public Safety Facilities Will Benefit
23,480 South Dakota Residents
HURON, SD, Oct. 29, 2020 – The Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $38,614,000 to improve critical community facilities to benefit 23,480 rural South Dakota residents.
“The funding packages announced today are centered around safety and providing essential services in rural communities. We are proud to make these important investments in rural South Dakota,” said USDA Rural Development South Dakota State Director Julie Gross. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA continues to be a strong partner to rural communities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Background:
Federal funding is being awarded through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. These investments will be for such purposes as to build or upgrade clinics and public safety facilities. South Dakota projects include:
- City of Faith will use a $30,000 loan and a $30,000 grant to purchase a used pumper truck for the City of Faith Fire Department. This truck is an upgrade from existing equipment at the end of its useful life.
- Vale Fire Department will use a $40,000 loan and a $30,000 grant to assist the Vale Fire Department in purchasing a type 6 brush truck to provide fire and emergency services throughout a 170-square-mile area.
- City of Bowdle will use a $255,000 loan to finance improvements for road infrastructure. The city will replace three blocks of street surface along Main Street. These improvements will help alleviate road breakup due to heavy traffic and will provide improved traffic flow for local residents and agricultural producers as the road is a main route to the local elevator. Local and state funds will be used in conjunction with Rural Development funding in order to accomplish the enhancements and provide a more unified sewer collection system for this rural South Dakota community.
- Lake Andes-Ravinia Fire Protection will use a $9,000 loan to replace four sets of fire protection gear, which have outlived their useful life. They are also replacing an infrared camera. The District is located in and around Lake Andes and Ravinia, Charles Mix County. This investment will improve the efficiency and delivery of fire protection services throughout the District's service area.
- City of Whitewood will use a $628,000 loan to help the city make needed renovations to Laurel and Fillmore Streets. Project details include replacement of the sanitary sewer line, water service lines, storm sewer, resurfacing of the road, and various sidewalk improvements. The federal funding is leveraged with funds from the South Dakota Department of Transportation and a Community Development Block Grant issued by the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
- Mobridge Regional Hospital will use a $37,592,000 loan to finance improvements to the hospital. The hospital will renovate and expand their facility in order to enhance patient care, improve employee workflow and optimize operational efficiency. Local funds will be used in conjunction with a Rural Development Direct loan of $30,074,000 and a Rural Development Guaranteed loan of $7,518,000 to fund the facility upgrade and provide for a high level of patient care for this rural South Dakota community.
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
This announcement is part of larger announcement made by USDA Rural Development Deputy Undersecretary Betty Brand where USDA is funding 256 projects in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
In South Dakota, interested parties should contact Tim Potts, Community Programs Director at tim.potts@usda.gov or (605) 858-6678 for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility details. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants a detailed overview of the application process.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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