The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $871 million to improve critical community facilities to benefit 3.5 million rural residents in 43 states and Guam.
“Rural America needs safe, modern community infrastructure to help residents and businesses achieve greater prosperity and have access to essential services,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand said. “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.”
Brand announced essential community projects today 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.
Background:
USDA is funding 256 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. These investments will be for such purposes as to build or upgrade schools, libraries, clinics and public safety facilities.
Projects funded in Nebraska are:
- The village of Oxford will use a $84,000 loan and $50,000 grant to help purchase a new sanitation truck with a 66,000 chassis and 36-yard compactor. This will upgrade their current fleet that includes trucks that are 22 and 26 years old.
- The village of Lyman will use a $770,000 loan and $50,000 grant to assist in the construction costs of replacing five gravel streets with PCC concrete and installing a storm sewer. The improvements will reduce flooding and eliminate safety concerns caused by impassable roads. These improvements will allow community residents to enjoy their village park without the concern of flooding and utilize the streets to safely travel throughout the village.
- The city of Peru will use a $59,300 loan and $50,000 grant to purchase a 2019 Ford four-wheel drive ambulance that will enhance the ability to maneuver during poor driving conditions. This public safety upgrade is needed to enable the community to retire two older ambulances with maintenance concerns.
- Henderson Health Care Services Inc. will use a $10,000,000 loan to construct approximately 14,510 square feet of new construction and 7,175 square feet of major remodel. This will include a new dietary building, material management, laundry, electrical rooms, and mechanical rooms. Also the project will offer an operating room: pre and post and support services building addition, new orthopedic OR, standard operating/endoscope procedure room, decontamination, sterile processing, sterile storage, PACU (2 bays) and Pre/Post Op (4 bays), locker room/change areas, nurse stations, miscellaneous support area and new equipment will be needed in all areas. Major remodel areas include the laboratory, pharmacy, physician work area, family surgery waiting area, and maintenance office. The old long-term care building will be demolished, and small physician parking area added. A new mechanical design will replace the existing 208-volt, three phase electrical to expand services and add LED fixtures and controls throughout the building addition and remodeled areas.
- The village of Morrill will use a $230,000 loan and $50,000 grant to assist in purchasing a 2020 Kenworth 3,000-gallon pumper truck. The Kenworth will replace the existing 1991 GMC 900-gallon pumper truck which has reached the end of its useful life and does not meet current safety standards. In addition to the increased water capacity, the new truck includes foam for vehicle or railroad fires and the increased capacity will be sufficient for putting out grass fires, which the old truck could not. This equipment purchase will allow the fire department to serve its community more efficiently and safely.
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.
Interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office 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.
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.