Funding will Help Provide Emergency Response Services, Educational Opportunities and Public Equipment
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – June 23, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Indiana Rural Development Acting State Director Curtis Johnson announced that USDA is investing $185 million to equip, rebuild, and modernize essential services in rural areas of 32 states. The investments will benefit 3 million rural residents.
“These loans and grants will help rural communities invest in facilities and services that are vital to all residents, such as schools, police departments and other community equipment necessities,” said Anderson. “USDA is committed to assisting rural Indiana build back better and stronger.”
USDA is investing in 233 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. Of these, 74 awards, totaling $4 million, will help communities with their long-term recovery efforts following natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods and tornadoes.
Huntington University Inc will use a $12.3 million loan to renovate and expand the PLEX athletic fieldhouse which will include updated facilities to provide space for continued academic growth. The renovations allow for use of buildings that have lost some functionality due to lack of updates. The updates will allow for students to have more space for classroom education as well as University campus life involvement.
The Town of South Whitley will use a $27,800 grant to purchase a police vehicle to replace the older vehicle with 160,000 miles on it and experiencing mechanical issues. This will provide three police vehicles for the five police officers to provide 24/7 police services to the community of almost 1,800 residents.
The City of Austin will use a $50,000 grant to assist with the purchase of two police vehicles. The vehicles will replace two older high mileage vehicles. The new vehicles will provide dependable coverage for the police department, allow it to provide appropriate emergency services to the community and combat the issues associated with drug use and the fallout from the abuse. This project will help keep the city a safer place to work and live for the 4,300 residents.
Crawford County School Corp will use a $53,000 grant to purchase 45 interactive display panels. The new panels are more modern than the existing panels and require a projector to function which are old and very costly to maintain with the cost of replacement bulbs. The new panels come with built in teaching tools and manipulatives that will increase student engagement during both in person and remote learning. For learner-centered, technology-rich lessons, the interactive display panels encourage peer-to-peer collaboration between students and teachers alike. The panels are equipped with tools to inspire students and make learning more fun such as instant polling, game-based activities and content sharing software.
The Town of Marengo will use a $4,000 grant to help purchase a new yard trash truck, 324 trash bins for customer use and a storage structure for the truck to serve over 800 residents. Currently the town contracts for this service and based on the most recent quotes for service, the town can provide the service for the same revenue by purchasing the trash truck and equipment. The town will use two employees already on town payroll to provide the labor.
The Town of Lynnville will use a $18,000 grant to purchase two utility vehicles and a rescue boat for use on the town owned park and lake property. The town and its almost 900 residents in rural Warrick County do not currently have the equipment to clean debris from the lake and grounds, nor do they have the boat to clear lake debris and for boater rescue purposes. The town is looking to add an additional employee with the purchase of this equipment.
Bread of Life Ministry Inc will use a $42,100 grant to replace all their HVAC units at the facility. The HVAC units currently in use are age from 25 to 30 years old and have reached their useful life. These systems are utilized to keep food products fresh as well as provide a comfortable environment for volunteers and clients. It is estimated that the operational cost savings from the new units could provide a savings of $7,000 to $10,000 annually. The facility serves low income persons and families within the area, as well as serves another 160 partner organizations that provide food to persons and families in their respective communities. Situated in rural Warrick County, over 1,600 residents will benefit.
Fulton County will use a $21,700 grant to add new Emergency Medical 911 equipment in the dispatch center which services almost 21,000 residents in rural Fulton County. The three current and three new Solacom answering positions will connect the 911 dispatchers to the many resources they need to respond to emergency situations. The workstations are loaded with resources such as police dispatch, ambulance dispatch, towing companies, flight information, fire protection, utility companies and railroad dispatch. The integrated headsets provide the ability to answer emergency calls and contact the resources needed simultaneously. The software allows Fulton County to be inter-operable with other counties and the system contains local and state contact resources for emergency response.
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.
To learn more about Community Facilities Program funding opportunities, contact our office at 317-290-3100 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/in. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants 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.
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