VILLISCA, Iowa, Feb. 10, 2022 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today amplified the announcement of infrastructure funding for projects to increase access to health care and public safety while spurring community development for people living in Villisca and Montgomery County.
“Good roads and modern hospitals help fuel the economic engine of rural communities,” said Theresa Greenfield, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa. “The investments being amplified here are going to be an enduring, long-term investment in Villisca and Montgomery County. So many rural communities have been coping with poor infrastructure for years—it’s great USDA can play a role in improving critical facilities. When we invest in rural Iowa, we help strengthen the whole nation.”
State Director Greenfield highlighted Community Facilities program announcements that will help open the door to new economic opportunities for southwest Iowa.
- The city of Villisca received a $494,100 Community Facilities Disaster Grant to be used to make street improvements. Improvements will include concrete pavement in areas with deteriorating streets, asphalt resurfacing for roadways that can be salvaged, and curb ramps that support pedestrians with disabilities. In June of 2021, the city also received a $25,900 Community Facilities Disaster Grant to purchase a power load cot for the city's volunteer ambulance service. The city's two ambulance vehicles are equipped with cots that require physical lifting by emergency service providers. This project will allow the city to purchase a new power-loading cot that will help protect emergency service providers from lifting injuries and will provide greater stability for patients.
- The Montgomery County Memorial Hospital received a $189,300 Community Facilities Disaster Grant. This investment will be used to help the hospital to purchase medical equipment. The hospital is adding new surgical procedures to its docket and corresponding equipment is needed to efficiently provide the appropriate medical procedures.
Background:
These investments are part of a larger nationwide announcement made in January by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh who highlighted that USDA is investing $1 billion to build and improve critical community facilities in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Guam.
Contact USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a state office in Des Moines, along with area offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas in Iowa, call (515) 284-4663 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia. 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 leadership of 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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