Investment to Improve Road Conditions for Nearly 900 Rural Missourians
COLUMBIA, MO, Oct. 2, 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 $300,000 for the city of Puxico to make street repairs.
“Torrential rains and flooding can be especially harsh on rural roads. Well maintained streets are necessary for rural citizens, first responders, and ag commodities to move safely and efficiently ensuring our rural economies thrive,” 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 Puxico, in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
The city of Puxico will use a $300,000 Community Facilities Grant to make repairs to 10 miles of city streets. In addition to normal roadway wear and tear, recent flooding caused erosion of the soil supporting the structure of the roads. Planned improvements include repairing potholes and other damaged portions of roads and laying a 2-inch asphalt overlay. When complete, this improved transportation infrastructure will improve safety for Puxico residents, ag producers, first responders, and others who may travel through the city.
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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