Rural Cass County welcomes new facility to benefit community
GRISWOLD, Iowa, Feb. 10, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Deputy State Director in Iowa Kate Sand today announced that the Agency is awarding a $1,000,000 grant to provide a facility to help meet the childcare needs of families in the rural southwest Iowa community of Griswold. The new childcare center is expected to promote economic development and enable residents of this rural area of Cass County to seek more employment opportunities.
“We are proud that we were able to help this community’s dream of high quality, safe childcare become a reality,” said Deputy Director Sand. “When USDA partners with local leadership to invest in rural communities, economic development happens.”
The childcare center held a grand opening ceremony to celebrate the project’s completion.
Background
The grant funding was made through the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program and was congressionally designated spending.
This investment was used to help the Noble Initiative Foundation build a new childcare center in Griswold. The funding application from the recipient stated that this project was designed to be an 8,890 square foot slab-on-grade, wood-framed building with space for four childcare rooms for children ranging from six weeks old to four years old; a gymnasium; a study room; a sick bay; office space; a secure entrance with surveillance cameras; a secure check-in reception area; and a separate area for the before-and-after-school program.
Contact USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.3 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.
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.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.