Funding will Help Provide Rural Health Care, Emergency Response Services and Long-Term Disaster Recovery
DES MOINES, Iowa, June 24, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director in Iowa Darin Leach today announced that USDA is investing $413,200 to equip, rebuild, and modernize essential services in rural areas throughout Iowa. The investments will benefit nearly 30,000 rural residents.
“USDA is committed to assisting rural communities with improving infrastructure for essential services,” Leach said. “By investing in facilities and services that are vital to all communities, such as schools, libraries, hospitals and health clinics, USDA is helping to improve the prosperity of rural America.”
Background:
USDA is investing in eight projects in Iowa through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program to ensure residents in rural areas enjoy the same quality of life and services as those in urban areas.
Below are examples of today’s investments which will assist in the development and sustainability of rural America.
- Southwest Iowa Families, Inc. is receiving a $50,000 grant to purchase furnishings and equipment for a public use facility that provides essential medical services for nearly 4,500 rural residents.
- The City of Manson is receiving a $36,400 grant to purchase a new law enforcement vehicle. Funds will also be used to purchase an emergency generator to ensure continued service during severe weather.
- The City of Maquoketa is receiving a $56,600 grant to purchase new protective turnout gear for the city’s 35 volunteer firefighters. The additional protection will help keep the firefighters safe from toxic carcinogens during emergency rescue calls.
- The Corning Opera House Cultural Center is receiving a $24,900 grant to build gutters on the exterior of the building to ensure that the restored historical facility remains structurally sound for public use.
- The Cardinal of Eldon Community School District is receiving a $42,000 grant to purchase a new school bus to replace a vehicle in its existing fleet that is no longer serviceable.
- The Shenandoah Medical Center is receiving a $50,000 grant to purchase a new four-wheel-drive ambulance to replace a vehicle in the existing fleet with high mileage.
- The City of Atlantic is receiving a $26,300 grant to purchase new flooring, computer tables, a standing computer table and new computers and printers for the public library.
- The City of Sabula is receiving a $127,000 grant to purchase a new street sweeper.
Today’s investments are in coordination with USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson’s recent announcement that USDA is investing $185 million to equip, rebuild, and modernize essential services in rural areas of 32 states, benefitting 3 million rural residents: 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.
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million residents living in rural Iowa. Office locations include a state office in Des Moines, along with local offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
These offices help to provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia or call (515) 284-4663. Follow us on Twitter @RD_Iowa.
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. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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