Funding will Help Provide Rural Health Care, Emergency Response Services and Long-Term Disaster Recovery
RALEIGH-N.C., June 23, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today announced USDA is investing $25 million to equip, rebuild, and modernize essential services in rural areas of North Carolina. The investments will benefit 98 thousand rural residents.
“We are proud of this investment into Rural North Carolina,” said USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Mel Ellis. “When we support essential services in rural America, we build opportunity and prosperity in rural communities. By supporting the local economy, we make rural communities, attractive, economically viable and safe places to live and work. This helps create and save jobs by attracting and retaining employers and workers.”
Background:
In North Carolina USDA is investing in 13 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program.
Below are today’s investments here:
- The town of Ahoskie is receiving a $145 thousand grant and $119 thousand loan to purchase a street sweeper. The current street sweeper is utilized daily and is ineffective, requiring many repairs due to its age.
- The town of Autryville is receiving a $50 thousand grant and $110 thousand loan to purchase public works equipment. The purchase will include, a 40kw Cummins generator, a 2020 F-550 truck with trash truck body, a 2020 F-150 pickup truck, and a Kubota commercial zero turn mower.
- The town of Boone is receiving a $9.7 million loan to finance the Howard Street Revitalization project. The project will include resurfacing streets, streetscape, rehabilitation of water, sewer, stormwater systems, and relocating electric and telecommunications underground.
- The Future Belongs to U Foundation is receiving a $33 thousand grant to purchase an outdoor playground equipment for the residents of Oak City.
- Harrells Volunteer Fire Department Incorporated is receiving a $420 thousand grant and $780 thousand loan to purchase a new rescue pumper and tanker trucks. Both trucks will be fully outfitted with all necessary equipment for emergency calls.
- The town of Middlesex is receiving a $15 thousand grant to purchase a police vehicle. The town's police department is now short one vehicle in its fleet to provide services to the citizens due to a crash that occurred in February 2020.
- The town of Norlina is receiving a $50 thousand grant and $150 thousand loan to purchase new security cameras. The new surveillance system will serve in common public areas and businesses with high vehicle and foot traffic.
- The Pocosin Art Inc. is receiving a $427 thousand grant to renovate existing buildings. This renovation project will consist of three buildings totaling approximately 19,500 sq. ft. that will be suited for continued use as studios and community event space with fully equipped classrooms, offices, exhibition, & gallery space.
- The Potters Hill Volunteer Fire Department is receiving a $375 thousand grant and a $795 thousand loan to replace three, high-mileage, fire trucks. The new trucks will provide essential fire protection and emergency services primarily for rural residents and businesses in Duplin County in eastern North Carolina.
- The Trenton Volunteer Fire Department is receiving a $50 thousand grant to purchase miscellaneous firefighting equipment. The proposed project will assist the department with replacing some of the much-needed fire equipment necessary to protect the citizens in its service area.
- The Town of Weldon is receiving a $50 thousand grant and $245 thousand loan to purchase eight police cars. The town has seven police vehicles that have an excess of 100,000 miles and are becoming a high maintenance cost.
- The Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department is receiving a $38 thousand loan to purchase new radios and turn out gear.
- The Youngsville Academy Charter School Inc. is receiving a $11.8 million loan to purchase a building for its 540 students in kindergarten through 8th grade. The 53,000-square-foot building has 33 classrooms, a multipurpose gymnasium and office space. The 20-acre site also includes outdoor playgrounds, an athletic field and ample parking.
“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.”
Nationwide 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.
USDA is investing in 234 projects across the country 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.
The Department is making investments in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
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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