U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is expanding access to health care for more than 5 million people living in 39 states and Puerto Rico as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
“The Biden-Harris Administration responded quickly to deliver immediate economic relief and to ensure people have access to quality health care during one of the most critical times in our nation’s history,” Deputy Secretary Torres Small said. “USDA’s Emergency Rural Health Care Grants program has played a key role in strengthening rural America’s health care infrastructure and building capacity for the future.”
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has two projects with a total investment of $384,685.
“The pandemic took a heavy toll on rural areas that have limited resources to sustain transportation and equipment,” said USDA Rural Development State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins. “These funds will help replenish and increase access to health care in the Upper Peninsula.”
Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital will use a $349,685 grant to purchase equipment, including a general X-ray machine, fluoroscopy and portable-imaging equipment. These items had significant use during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency will use a $35,000 grant to purchase a vehicle to transport meals to homebound individuals. The need for this project was identified as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic and will increase the region's resilience to maintain services for future public health emergencies.
USDA is awarding $129 million in Emergency Rural Health Care Grants to improve health care facilities in rural towns across the nation. These grants will help 172 rural health care organizations expand critical services.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, 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.