CAMDEN, Ala., December 16, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Alabama State Director Nivory Gordon today announced that the USDA is investing $233,900 in the Wilcox Hospital Board to fund the purchase of a new medical imaging machine for the J. Paul Jones Hospital in Camden, Alabama. This new equipment will greatly enhance the quality of life for area residents.
"The investment that we are announcing today will greatly enhance the ability of this hospital to serve Wilcox County", Gordon said. "Many rural residents, both in the time of the Pandemic and in other times, have called upon Alabama's rural hospitals in their time of need. For many Alabamians, access to a rural hospital can mean the difference between life and death. I am no different. Earlier this year, I was injured in a farming accident that nearly took my life. Make no mistake, if not for the existence of the J. Paul Jones Hospital and their wonderful staff, I would not be making this announcement here today."
USDA is financing this project through a grant of $233,900 under the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Program. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase a new CT medical imaging machine. Wilcox Hospital Board will provide the equipment to the J Paul Jones Hospital. The 21-bed hospital features two rural health clinics that services rural residents in and around Wilcox County. This investment will allow residents to have modern medical imaging access to detect complications from COVID-19 and other ailments closer to home, instead of requiring extensive travel to obtain modern and detailed medical imaging services. This investment will benefit 11,670 rural residents in Wilcox County.
Background:
Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021 to deliver immediate economic relief to people impacted by the pandemic. Within months after the Act’s passage, USDA responded quickly by making this funding available to ensure the long-term availability of rural health care services. In August 2021, USDA made the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants available through the American Rescue Plan Act to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to health care services and nutrition assistance.
The assistance is helping provide immediate relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and local communities. USDA is administering the funds through Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas in Alabama, contact your local USDA Rural Development area office.
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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