U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Kentucky State Director Dr. Tom Carew today announced over $416,000 in grant projects that will help improve essential community services in rural Kentucky.
The 10 projects announced today will benefit more than 64,000 rural Kentuckians.
“Those who call rural Kentucky home should have the same public services as those who live in more suburban and urban areas of the Commonwealth,” said Carew. “Thanks to Biden-Harris administration investments like these, rural Kentucky will continue to be a great place to raise a family and start a business.”
Hickman County Fiscal Court will use a $21,100 Community Facilities grant to purchase a law enforcement vehicle. The project will serve about 5,000 people.
Hart County Fiscal Court will use a $47,400 Community Facilities grant to purchase three law enforcement vehicles. This project will serve nearly 18,500 people.
The city of Scottsville will use a $49,100 Community Facilities grant to purchase and equip a vehicle for the city’s law enforcement department. This project will serve about 4,500 people.
Inez Volunteer Fire Department Inc. will use a $48,990 Community Facilities grant to purchase equipment for the volunteer fire department. This project will serve about 13,000 people.
Jackson Independent Schools will use a $32,700 Community Facilities grant to purchase a passenger van for the school to use across the district. This project will serve about 2,500 people.
Owsley County Fiscal Court will use a $42,660 Community Facilities grant to purchase a search and rescue vehicle to assist the law enforcement department. This project will serve about 5,000 people.
Owsley County Fiscal Court will also use a $32,200 Community Facilities grant to purchase a multi-use vehicle to be used by all departments within the fiscal court.
Wolfe County Search & Rescue Inc. will use a $50,000 Community Facilities grant to upgrade technical gear, establish a command trailer to perform large-scale search-and-rescue operations, and purchase additional rescue equipment. This project will serve nearly 7,500 people in a persistent poverty area.
Casey County Fiscal Court will use a $41,900 Community Facilities grant to purchase a vehicle and provide the necessary equipment for a law enforcement K-9 unit. This project will serve approximately 16,000 people in the community.
The city of Jackson will use a $50,000 Community Facilities grant to replace two law enforcement vehicles that are past their useful life. This project will serve over 2,000 people.
Background – Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
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.