MONTGOMERY, Ala., March 23, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it is investing $200,000 to support critical community services and facilities to benefit over 12,000 rural Alabamians. This funding includes $100,000 to support emergency response services.
“The Biden-Harris administration has made beating the COVID-19 pandemic and restoring the economy a top-priority, and USDA is playing a critical role,” Maxson said. “USDA Rural Development programs and services are in a unique position to help rural communities facing challenges caused by the pandemic.”
Background:
USDA is investing in 2 projects in Alabama through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The assistance will fund emergency response vehicles and a community facility with storm shelter, improving essential community services.
- The Hazel Green Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Inc. will use a $100,000 loan to purchase two additional fire trucks. These additional trucks will allow the department to expand its service area, and to provide for faster response times. This project will benefit approximately 12,000 rural residents.
- The town of Twin will use a $25,000 grant and $75,000 loan to purchase a facility on 19 acres to serve as a community center and storm shelter for the town. The facility is fully accessible and can be used by all members of the community. The addition of the storm shelter will also increase safety in the town. This project will benefit approximately 400 rural residents.
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 in Alabama should contact the USDA Rural Development Alabama state office for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility details. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants (PDF, 669 KB) for a detailed overview of the application process.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, Tribal and high-poverty 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 touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate, smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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