United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting State Director for Rural Development Brian Murray announced investments totaling more than $7.1 million in loan and grant funding that will go on to assist more than 50,000 rural New York residents and their communities. This is part of a national announcement where Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is investing $222 million to build and improve critical community facilities in 44 states, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. This community infrastructure funding will benefit nearly 2.5 million people in rural communities. It also includes $132 million to support health care, food security, and emergency response services for more than 850,000 rural residents in 37 states.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is delivering on its promise to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild our economy,” Murray said. “Rural Americans need emergency response, hospitals and medical facilities, and USDA’s loans and grants invest in critical infrastructure to make that possible. USDA Rural Development puts rural people at the forefront of investment and opportunity to help us all build back better, stronger, and more resilient.”
USDA is investing in 536 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The assistance will fund essential community services that will help keep rural America resilient in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The projects will finance emergency response vehicles and equipment; build or improve hospitals and clinics; and combat food insecurity.
Some of projects in New York include:
- Town of Ripley This Rural Development investment of $150,000 in grant funding will be used to renovate the town of Ripley highway garage, located in Chautauqua County, New York. These renovations will help ensure the town has adequate equipment storage for its highway equipment.
- Town of New Lisbon This Rural Development investment of $1.9 million in loan funding and $700,000 in grant funding will be used to construct a new highway garage in the town of New Lisbon, located in Otsego County, New York. This garage will replace an older highway garage that is no longer functional due to mold and air ventilation issues. The new garage will help ensure the town has adequate equipment storage for its highway equipment.
- Town of Southport This Rural Development investment of $83,000 in grant funding will be used to purchase a new 2022 Volvo VHD-64F300 snowplow truck in the town of Southport, New York. This vehicle will replace the town's old truck that is at the end of its useful life. This truck will also aide in providing safe and properly maintained roadways.
- Lyons Fire District This Rural Development investment of $900,000 in loan funding and $200,000 in grant funding will be used to purchase a Pierce Saber Pumper Truck and a Pierce Saber Rescue Pumper Truck for the Lyons Fire District, located in Wayne County, New York. These vehicles will replace the department's old pumper trucks that are at the end of their useful life.
- Village of Nichols This Rural Development investment of $152,000 in loan funding will be used to purchase a new 2022 Freightliner M2-106 Street Sweeper for the Village of Nichols, located in Tioga County, New York This vehicle will replace the village's old street sweeper that is at the end of its useful life.
- Village of Pulaski This Rural Development investment of $161,000 in grant funding will be used to purchase a new TYMCO Model 600 Street Sweeper for the Village of Pulaski, located in Oswego County, New York. This vehicle will replace the village's old street sweeper that is at the end of its useful life. This equipment will help maintain the village roads and highways to keep the residents safe.
The investments announced today will support community infrastructure projects in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico.
Background:
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. For more information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-program.
Today’s investments complement the recently announced funding availability under USDA’s Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program, which also is being administered through the Community Facilities program. Through this program, USDA is making up to $500 million available through the American Rescue Plan to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services and nutrition assistance.
Under the Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program, Recovery Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are expended. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.
Interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility. 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. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to 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.