Funding will Help Provide Rural Health Care, Emergency Response Services and Long-Term Disaster Recovery
TEMPLE, Tx, June 23, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today 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. Acting Texas State Director Daniel Torres announced that four of those projects totaling $1.45 million are located in Texas.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has made investing in infrastructure improvements a priority,” Maxson said. “These loans and grants will help rural communities invest in facilities and services that are vital to all communities, such as schools, libraries, hospitals and health clinics. They also will help rural communities continue to beat the COVID-19 pandemic as America builds back better and stronger.”
Background:
USDA is investing in four projects in Texas through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. One of these awards, totaling $165,500, will help a community with its long-term recovery efforts following a natural disaster such as hurricanes, floods and tornadoes.
Below are examples of today’s investments:
- The city of Castroville is receiving a $1.18 million loan to construct a multi-unit hangar building at the Castroville Municipal Airport to accommodate the demand for aircraft storage. The planned multi-unit hangar will increase the airport's storage capability for single-engine general aviation aircraft by 15 percent.
- Kinney County will use a $165,500 grant to purchase an ambulance and a Stryker Power Pro XT Lift Cot. This will replace the existing ambulance which has excessive mileage and the module has been remounted on three different chassis over the years. The county's Emergency Medical Service provides service to the county residents with the nearest hospital being between 40 and 50 miles away.
- The city of Devine is receiving a $72,200 grant to replace two of the city's police vehicles with high mileage and repairs. The vehicles will enable the officers to better provide law enforcement services to the residents of Devine.
- Stephens County will use a $35,000 grant to purchase a tractor and brush hog. The equipment will be used to mow and clear obstructions from the airport and road rights-of-way providing pilots and drivers a chance to avoid any possible collision with wildlife. The applicant will contribute $29,400 to the project.
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 a USDA Rural Development state office. 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, 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.
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