RICHMOND, Va., June 6, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Virginia State Director Perry Hickman will hit the road next week to highlight investments of nearly $14 million to help improve quality of life and ensure continuity of critical services in nine Southwest Virginia communities.
His schedule includes stops in the towns of Marion, Jonesville and Wise, and the city of Norton to participate in events that demonstrate the depth and breadth of programs and technical assistance the agency provides. The full itinerary is provided below:
- June 10 – Smyth Behavioral Health Campus Expansion Groundbreaking Ceremony
10 a.m. at 216 Hospital Avenue, Marion VA
Hickman will provide remarks for the Mount Rogers Community Services event to publicize this project, which was partially funded through a $5 million Emergency Rural Healthcare Grant. Features of the expanded facility include a larger Counseling Center and Crisis Stabilization Unit as well as a Crisis Receiving Center and Peer Center.
- June 11 – Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Demo
9 a.m. at the Lee County School Board Office and Career and Technical Center, 155 Vo Tech Drive, Jonesville, VA
Lee County Public Schools staff and administrators will unveil and demonstrate recently installed teleconferencing equipment purchased with a $740,793 grant to help teachers deliver instructional resources, professional development courses, and mental health services to 11 locations benefitting 5,545 students.
- June 12 – Community Programs Showcase
9 a.m. at High Knob Destination Center, 1147 Laurel Avenue Southwest, Norton, VA
11 a.m. at the Wise County Public Service Authority, 5622 Industrial Park Road, Wise, VA
This event features activities in two locations to shine a spotlight on partnerships dating back more than 50 years to support public safety, water and sanitation services for the neighboring communities of Norton and Wise. USDA RD has worked with the city of Norton for more than 30 years, providing more than $2.6 million in Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants between 2021 and 2024 for fire and police vehicle purchases.
Obligations for Wise County PSA service trucks, sanitation vehicles and water system improvements in that same period totaled more than $5.4 million in Community Facilities Loans and Grants and Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants, but the collaboration dates back even further with the first loan and grant combination awarded in 1971.
“Rural development isn’t just a mission for us,” Hickman said. “It’s personal. Our team members live and work in the communities they serve and are committed to building a brighter future for rural Virginians. The projects we’re highlighting wouldn’t be possible without the strong relationships developed over years of regular contacts with the people and organizations that provide critical services for these communities.”
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.
