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Trump Administration Invests in Rural Community Facilities in Georgia

Name
Deborah Callahan
Phone
City
ATHENS, Ga.,
Release Date

Athens, Ga., Oct. 28, 2020 – 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.

“There are a variety of essential community needs that will be met by today’s announcement,” USDA State Director for Rural Development Joyce White said. “In Georgia we’re announcing 24 projects today from all across the state and a couple of communities really homed in on Rural Development to meet needs.” “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.”

The Department 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. Some examples from Georgia include:

  • The Hospital Authority of Jefferson County and the City of Louisville, Georgia will use a $2.8 million loan to create a 10-bed, adult inpatient psychiatric unit inside a rural genera acute care hospital. The project involves the conversion of a first-floor inpatient unit, with no proposed increase in Jefferson Hospital's maximum evaluated 65-bed capacity, to create a self-contained adult inpatient psychiatric unit with 10 private rooms and required dining, counseling, nursing, administrative and support space consistent with applicable state licensing requirements. This first-floor location will offer controlled access and patient privacy.  Jefferson Hospital provides primary medical and surgical care to Jefferson County and the surrounding area in Georgia.
  • The Hogansville, Georgia Downtown Development Authority will use a $9,000 loan and $9,000 grant to purchase 300 reconditioned residential utility gas meters. The city has about 1,000 gas meters total; these 300 radio-read meters will replace those that are old, running down and can't be converted to radio read. The 300 replacements are reconditioned, calibrated and R275, meaning that 275,000 cubic feet of gas can go through them at once, which is more than sufficient for residential use.  They will have two-year warranties.  Some of the city's oldest meters are cast iron; the new 300 meters will be aluminum. They will improve system efficiency and accuracy; saving time and money for the city and its utility customers.  
  • The City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia will use a $3.49 million loan to construct a town hall and a fire station.  The two buildings will be located on the same 1.67-acre tract that is owned by the city.  The town hall will be 4,000 square feet.  It will have a large room for city council meetings and other public events.  The building will also have a smaller conference room in the rear.  There will be a reception area and office space for the mayor, city manager, and city clerk.  The building will also contain two accessible restrooms.  The fire station will be 4,400 square feet.  It will have two bays for vehicles.  It will have office space and restrooms, as well as a living area with bedrooms for the firefighters.
     
    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 the Georgia USDA Rural Development Community Programs Division at (706) 546-2171 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.