USDA Invests $222 Million In Rural Community Infrastructure To Help People In 44 States

Washington, DC-(Effingham Radio)- Projects Include $132 Million for Rural Health Care, Food Security and Emergency Response Services

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting State Director Molly Hammond today announced that USDA is investing $871,700 to build and improve critical community facilities in Illinois as part of a $222 million investment in 44 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. This community infrastructure funding will benefit nearly 2.5 million people in rural communities throughout the United States. 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.

“USDA Rural Development in Illinois is committed to do what we can to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild our economy,” Hammond said. “Our neighbors will benefit greatly from these investments in emergency response, hospitals and medical facilities throughout the state and we are looking forward to seeing their progress.

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.

For example in Illinois:

• Four Star Public Library District will use a $90,000 grant to help with the construction of a one-story, 1,800 square foot conventional framed addition to the existing library consisting of a large activity/meeting space, accessible restroom, storage spaces and outdoor patio/activity space to enhance the service offerings of the existing library. The library serves northeast Adams County and a portion of Hancock County.
• City of Carrollton will use a $9,000 grant to enable the city to purchase a pickup truck for use by the city’s street department for city projects. Their current 18-year-old truck, which needs costly repairs, will be replaced. The project will benefit all residents.
• County of Hancock will use a $46,100 grant to purchase a 4×4 remount ambulance. This ambulance will replace two existing ambulances that no longer provide adequate services. The replacement ambulance ensures the continuation of essential services and will improve public safety throughout the community.
• Village of Williamsfield will use a $15,400 grant for bathroom renovations and install sidewalks for Village Hall. Improvements will replace the water line and remodel the Village Hall bathroom to make compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The village will also build new parking and sidewalks for the Village Hall which will be handicap accessible.
• City of Pittsfield will use a $30,200 grant to purchase an unmarked law enforcement vehicle with added equipment. The department will buy a truck with speed radar, cameras, audio, and other modern equipment. This added vehicle to its fleet will combat drug-related crime and increase public safety in the community.
• City of Griggsville will use a $49,500 grant to purchase a cab truck and chassis with snowplow and spreader. This will be a replacement for their truck that has costly maintenance and repair issues. The truck will be utilized to assist with the maintenance of city property and streets and provide essential community service to the village residents.
• Village of Brooklyn will use a $49,700 grant to provide two pre-owned 2019 law enforcement interceptor utility vehicles and eight portable radios. These cars will replace high mileage vehicles that require costly repairs. Also, the new radios will replace the current radios that have met their useful life and are no longer supported by current technology and software. This project will enable the village to provide protection to all residents promptly while ensuring the officers’ safety.
• Dongola Public Library District will use a $16,500 grant to replace the roof on the library by installing a rubber roof with decking and application of shingles. In addition, Shrub removal and patchwork on exterior brick walls will be completed. The project also includes removing water damage on the interior walls with cleaning, painting, and ceiling replacement, where needed.
• Village of Mount Auburn will use a $12,600 grant to construct a 5-foot reinforced concrete retaining wall along the southern edge of the city hall property parking lot to provide stability for a new 10-foot-wide section of aggregate parking lot along the retaining wall.  This project will improve safety and maintainability of the parking lot.
• City of Taylorville will use a $24,500 grant to purchase of a law enforcement vehicle. The city’s law enforcement department is in need of another vehicle to add to their fleet. They plan to purchase a 2021 law enforcement Interceptor Utility AWD vehicle.  This project will provide better public safety and will serve 11,246 residents in Christian County, Illinois.
• City of Pana will use a $24,400 grant to purchase a law enforcement interceptor AWD vehicle to replace a current vehicle with high mileage and is in need of costly repairs. The city has nine full time officers, seven of which provide full-time patrol duties utilizing six vehicles.  This vehicle will ensure the safety of the patrol officers while providing public safety to the residents.
• Village of Montrose will use a $25,000 grant to purchase a replacement snowplow truck with dump bed. The village will purchase a 2021 vehicle with snowplow package and dump body insert.  This project will ensure adequate public safety to the community and provide essential services to approximately 201 residents located in Effingham County, Illinois.
• Scottville Township will use a $159,000 loan and $25,000 grant to purchase a replacement road grader. The townships’ road grader has reached its useful life and can no longer adequately serve the community. The township will purchase a 2019 road grader, maintaining 46.1 miles of roads and ditches within the township.
• City of Witt will use a $24,900 grant to purchase a replacement law enforcement vehicle with added equipment. This vehicle will replace the city’s existing law enforcement vehicle, which has reached its useful life. The new vehicle ensures adequate public safety for the community.
• Village of Carrier Mills will use a 25,000 grant to purchase a replacement vehicle for the village of Carrier Mills Law Enforcement Department. The 4-wheel drive vehicle will be a 2021 model with required equipment. This vehicle will replace an older vehicle in the fleet which has reached its useful life and is no longer dependable. The replacement vehicle with added equipment ensures improved public safety for the immediate and surrounding communities.
• Village of Cowden will use a $25,000 grant to purchase a replacement backhoe. The current backhoe has reached its useful life and repairs have become too costly. They plan to purchase a 2021 4WD tier 4 final loader backhoe. This replacement equipment is vital to the continuation of municipal services.
• Four Star Public Library District will use a $200,000 loan to help with the construction of a one-story, 1,800 square foot conventional framed addition to the existing library consisting of a large activity/meeting space, accessible restroom, storage spaces and outdoor patio/activity space to enhance the service offerings of the existing library. This project will enhance the programs currently offered by the library and will continue to provide an essential community service to the residents in the service area.
• Cairo Elks Lodge 651 will use a $19,900 grant to replace a roof and heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit.  This project will install metal roofing, two furnaces and one air conditioning unit.  Improvements will ensure the continuation of charitable services to the community and allow the community to keep and maintain their central gathering place.

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 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.