Projects Will Benefit More Than 80,000 Rural Missourians
COLUMBIA, MO, Jan. 26, 2022– U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Missouri State Director Kyle Wilkens announced today that USDA is investing $2,761,900 to build and improve critical community facilities across rural Missouri. This funding will increase access to public safety, education, emergency response, and help fund other essential community facilities and equipment needed to spur community development for people living in rural Missouri.
“Rural Development is committed to improving infrastructure across rural Missouri,” Wilkens said. “Community infrastructure is key to ensuring that rural areas have access to health care, education, and public safety. The investments announced today will help develop and build sound infrastructure, ultimately helping Missouri communities build back better.”
Wilkens highlighted 21 investments to 19 recipients that USDA is making through three programs that will fund essential community services to help rural Missouri build back better, stronger, and more equitably than ever before. These programs include Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants, Community Facilities Disaster Grants, and Economic Impact Initiative Grants. Listed below is a sampling of how Missouri communities are utilizing these investments (the full list of recipients is linked above):
- The Nevada Animal Shelter Corporation, in Nevada, will use a $1,144,000 loan and a $400,000 grant and to construct an animal shelter facility. This new facility will be used to better serve Nevada citizens, providing a healthy and sanitary environment for individuals who visit and work at the shelter, along with an improved atmosphere for animals.
- Putnam County Special Projects Organization, Inc. will use a $14,700 loan and $7,800 grant to purchase a fire truck that will be leased to the Liberty Township Fire Protection District, replacing an older model.
- Arbyrd Community Development Corporation will use a $29,100 loan and a $35,400 grant to purchase a city maintenance vehicle, utility bed, and trailer that will be leased to the city of Arbyrd. The new trailer will allow the city to easily transport its excavator and other equipment around the city for faster and more efficient maintenance.
- Knox County R-1 School District will use a $236,900 grant to purchase two new 65-seat electric school buses. The district covers 496 square miles and currently operates 14 buses and nine bus routes, largely on rural roads. The purchase of these electric buses will help to decrease annual fuel and maintenance costs and the buses are estimated to have a longer useful life than their diesel counterparts.
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 announcements come as part of a larger, nationwide announcement from USDA Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh where she announced $1 billion to improve community infrastructure for people living in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
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.
Contact USDA Rural Development
Information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting www.rd.usda.gov/mo, by calling (573) 876-0976, or by emailing RDMissouri@usda.gov.
USDA Rural Development has 25 offices across the state to serve the 2.2 million residents living in rural Missouri. Office locations include a state office in Columbia, along with local offices in Butler, Charleston, Chillicothe, Clinton, Dexter, Eldon, Farmington, Higginsville, Houston, Kennett, Kirksville, Maryville, Mexico, Moberly, Neosho, New London, Poplar Bluff, Richmond, Rolla, Sedalia, Springfield, St. Joseph, Troy, and West Plains.
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