COLUMBIA, Mo., July 10, 2024 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Missouri Kyle Wilkens, alongside federal, state and local officials, today visited the city of Portageville to celebrate new critical public safety equipment.
“Every investment that we make here at Rural Development impacts the growth and economic sustainability of our great state’s rural communities,” Wilkens said. “It is rewarding to see those investments in action and hear about the positive impacts directly from those living in the community. The Portageville Police Department was down to one patrol vehicle and with the help of Rural Development now have four additional patrol vehicles. As long as we can continue to be a part of the investment to address the distinct needs of rural communities, we are one step closer to building a stronger and more resilient rural Missouri and America.”
With a population of just over 3,200 residents, the city of Portageville, ‘defined less by boundaries on a map than by the sense of shared values [their] residents hold dear,’ [1] was having maintenance issues with the existing fleet of law enforcement vehicles due to high milage. Thanks to a partnership with USDA, the city was able to purchase four new vehicles that will ensure local law enforcement is able to continue providing efficient public safety services while also keeping law enforcement providers safe en route.
USDA provided financial assistance in the form of a $24,500 grant through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program.
This investment reflects the many ways that USDA Rural Development’s programs can help rural areas address the unique needs of their individual and surrounding communities to help rural America build back resiliency.
Background
USDA’s Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program helps residents in rural areas build or improve essential community infrastructure and purchase or replace equipment needed for essential community services.
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.
To learn more about Community Facilities Program funding opportunities, contact your local USDA Rural Development office. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants (PDF, 669 KB) for a detailed overview of the application process.
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. Stay current by following @RD_Missouri on Twitter.
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.
If you’d like to subscribe to Missouri USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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