Investment to Benefit Nearly 11,000 Rural Missourians in Five Communities
COLUMBIA, MO, Sept. 29, 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 $307,700 to modernize maintenance equipment for five rural northwest Missouri communities.
“Well maintained rural roads and equipment infrastructure allow 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. “USDA Rural Development is partnering with rural communities to provide up-to-date equipment because Missouri’s rural residents deserve modern infrastructure, and its positive economic impact, in the communities they call home. Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Missouri in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
- The city of Albany will use a $60,000 grant to purchase a wheel loader and vacuum excavator. The new wheel loader will replace the city's well-used 15-year-old model that requires frequent repairs and is nearing the end of its useful life. The vacuum excavator will be a new purchase for the city; this equipment will allow for efficient excavation in areas around town where the use of traditional equipment is restricted due to space, size, or other situations.
- The city of Savannah was awarded a $33,700 grant to purchase a dump truck with snowplow attachment, pickup truck, and ditch witch with vacuum trailer to better maintain city roads, property, and utility lines and four breathing apparatuses for the city’s fire department.
- Gentry County will use a $70,000 grant to purchase an excavator for the county’s road and bridge department, replacing an older model that is at the end of its useful life. This vital piece of equipment will be used for construction projects including new bridges, installing road and drainage tubes, as well as repairing bridges, embankments, and creeks; the department services over 200 bridges in Gentry County.
- Washington Township of Harrison County was awarded a $121,300 grant to purchase a motor grader to maintain and improve the township’s roads. Washington Township has more than 30 miles of roads and many ditches and culverts; the flooding in 2019 created a backlog of repairs that need to be made and has strained the township’s aging motor grader beyond its capability.
- A $22,700 grant will be used by White Oak Township of Harrison County to aid in the purchase of a newer model motor grader that is necessary due to mechanical failure of its aging machine. Flooding in 2019 resulted in the township needing to make repairs to its 44 miles of roads, ditches, and culverts that is over and above the normal maintenance needed.
Today’s announcement includes funding from the Community Facilities Loan and Grant Program, and 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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