Funding will Benefit 16 Thousand with Rural Health Care
and Emergency Response Services
RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 23, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today announced that USDA is investing $1 million to build and improve critical community facilities to benefit nearly 16 thousand rural residents in North Carolina.
“The Biden-Harris administration has made beating the COVID-19 pandemic and restoring the economy a top-priority, and USDA is playing a critical role,” Maxson said. “USDA Rural Development programs and services are in a unique position to help rural communities facing challenges caused by the pandemic. The investments announced today will spur community development and build sound infrastructure like hospitals and medical facilities to help rural America build back better and stronger.”
Background:
USDA is investing in six projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The assistance will fund emergency response vehicles and equipment, improving essential community services.
Below are the projects announced today for North Carolina:
- The Middlesex Fire Department will use a $11 thousand loan to purchase a fully outfitted tanker truck. The new truck will serve more than 60 businesses, four manufacturing facilities and one medical center in the response area. This project will benefit 822 rural residents.
- The town of Greenevers, will use a $197 thousand loan to resurface the town's streets. Hurricane Florence caused significant flooding in 2018. This project will allow roughly 30,000 square yards of street resurfacing to provide safe travel for the town's residents. This project will benefit 634 rural residents.
- Scuffleton Rural Fire Association Inc. will use a $101 thousand loan to purchase a new pumper truck and refinance debt. This project will benefit 5,341 rural residents.
- Chinquapin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad Inc. will use a $500 thousand loan to purchase a pumper truck and a pumper tanker truck. Both trucks will be fully outfitted with all necessary equipment. This project will benefit 3,523 rural residents.
- Mount Olive Family Medicine Center will use a $251 thousand loan and $50 thousand grant to provide additional funding to construct an addition, and to refinance debt. The 3,403-square-foot addition will include nine exam rooms, four provider rooms, a work-up room, a conference room and restrooms. This project will benefit 4,589 rural residents.
- The town of Fremont will use a $29 thousand loan to purchase a tractor and cutter. The equipment will provide essential maintenance and public works services for Fremont's residents. The town's existing equipment has exceeded its useful life and has high maintenance and repair costs. The new equipment will be more reliable and less costly. This project will benefit 1,255 rural residents.
“The safety and good health of rural North Carolina continues to be the top priority of rural development” said a representative of USDA Rural Development North Carolina. “We are investing in the recovery and wellbeing of our state.”
USDA is investing $266 million to build and improve critical community facilities to benefit nearly 3 million rural residents in 16 states and Puerto Rico. This funding includes $156 million to support health-care related improvements and emergency response services that will benefit nearly 1 million rural residents.
Nationwide these investments are going to Alabama, California, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Puerto Rico.
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 rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
Interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility details. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants (PDF, 669 KB) for a detailed overview of the application process.
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. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to 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.
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