Investment to Benefit More Than 3,000 Rural Missourians
COLUMBIA, MO, Oct. 19, 2020 – The Trump Administration, along with Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Missouri Jeff Case, today announced that the USDA is investing $18,700 to improve emergency communications in Buffalo, Mo.
“Modern emergency communications infrastructure is vital to the safety of rural Missourians and essential for first responders to adequately serve rural communities, businesses, and residents,” said Trump Administration Official State Director Case. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural communities, like Buffalo, in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
The city of Buffalo will use an $18,700 Community Facilities Grant to purchase equipment needed to improve emergency communications within the city. The Dallas County 911 system is transitioning from analog communications to digital communications and the city does not have the resources to upgrade all emergency responders’ radios to digital. This grant will provide the funding to purchase five portable vehicle digital radios and 10 handheld portable digital radios for emergency responders. This upgraded communications infrastructure will increase law enforcement personnel safety, interoperability with county and state agencies, boost the coverage and reach of radio communication between dispatch and emergency responders, and better provide for Buffalo’s citizens.
Funding for today’s announcement was made available through the $150 million in grants included in the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act that President Trump signed into law on June 6, 2019. These grants are to help eligible rural communities continue their recovery from the devastating effects of hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters such as recent years’ severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in Missouri.
Currently, Missouri has 84 counties included in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Major Disaster Declarations; view the complete list of the state’s designated counties.
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 eligible rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less. Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are exhausted.
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.
Contact USDA Rural Development
Information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting www.rd.usda.gov/mo, by calling (573) 876-0976, or by emailing RDMissouri@usda.gov.
USDA Rural Development has 25 offices across the state to serve the 2.2 million residents living in rural Missouri. Office locations include a state office in Columbia, along with local offices in Butler, Charleston, Chillicothe, Clinton, Dexter, Eldon, Farmington, Higginsville, Houston, Kennett, Kirksville, Maryville, Mexico, Moberly, Neosho, New London, Poplar Bluff, Richmond, Rolla, Sedalia, Springfield, St. Joseph, Troy, and West Plains.
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