U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA Invests $47.1 Million to Improve Rural Community Facilities and Essential Services in 5 Rural Communities

Name
Christopher Stewart
Phone
City
Syracuse
Release Date

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) NY Acting State Director for Rural Development Brian Murray today announced that USDA is investing $47.1 million throughout 5 rural communities in New York State. This is part of a national announcement where the USDA is investing more than $266 million to build and improve critical community facilities to benefit nearly 3 million rural residents in 16 states and Puerto Rico. This funding includes $156 million to support health-care-related improvements and emergency response services that will benefit nearly 1 million rural residents in nine states and Puerto Rico.

“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,” Murray said. “USDA Rural Development programs and services are in a unique position to help rural communities facing challenges caused by the pandemic. The investments announced today will spur community development and build sound infrastructure like hospitals and medical facilities to help rural America build back better and stronger.”

Background:

USDA is investing in 41 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The assistance will fund a variety of essential community services, including emergency response vehicles and equipment.

These investments are going to Alabama, California, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Puerto Rico.

Below are examples of the projects announced today in New York:

  • The Center for Discovery    This Rural Development investment of $35 million in loan funding will be used to construct a children's specialty hospital in the town of Thompson. New York state lacks short-term inpatient assessment programs for children with complex developmental disabilities. The specialty hospital will have a short-term clinical assessment program to better diagnose underlying problems that affect behavior and learning. It will primarily serve Delaware, Chenango, Otsego, Columbia, Ulster, Orange, Greene, Broome and Schoharie counties. The Center provides educational, clinical and residential services for intellectually disabled individuals. It is the largest private-sector employer in Sullivan County. Additional funding includes a $5 million USDA Rural Development loan guarantee.

 

  • Village of Greenwich                        This Rural Development investment of $463,000 in loan funding will be used to purchase a pumper fire truck. The Typhoon-X medium cab will have a 1,030-gallon water tank and a 750- to 1,250-gallon-per-minute pump. It is designed to fight fires and respond to emergencies in and around the village of Greenwich in Washington County. The new truck will replace a 2000 model-year rescue pumper with outdated safety features and limitations on the amount of rescue equipment that can be carried. The new truck will serve 5,150 residents.
     
  • Village of Odessa                  This Rural Development investment of $38,000 in loan and $22,000 in grant funding will be used to purchase a snowplow with a dump body. The plow will replace a 2002 model year truck that has become unreliable. The new truck will serve 591 residents.
     
  • Town of Richford                 This Rural Development investment of $142,000 in loan and $80,000 in grant funding will be used to purchase a 10-wheel truck with a dump body and snowplow. This new snowplow will replace a 1997 model year truck that has become unreliable. The new truck will serve 1,172 residents.
     
  • Keuka College                       This Rural Development investment of $11,735,000 in loan funding will be used to purchase the Keuka Commons building and refinance debt. Keuka Commons is an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant building on Keuka College's campus in Keuka Park in Yates County.

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 (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.