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USDA Rural Development Delivers $60.7 Million Through Community Programs to Rural Nebraska

Name
Vicki Schurman
City
Lincoln
Release Date

USDA Rural Development State Director Maxine Moul announces that $60.7 million was delivered to Nebraska in federal fiscal year 2014 through its Community Programs.  The total Community Programs portfolio reflects $450 million in funding since 1996 and all projects are in good standing.  USDA Rural Development is currently accepting applications for fiscal year 2015 and leveraging with other financial resources greatly enhances the project’s support.

 “The infrastructure of rural communities is essential and USDA Rural Development is pleased to be able to support Nebraska communities with $60.7 million in 2014,” said Moul.  “We look forward to Fiscal Year 2015 and continuing to meet the needs of rural residents.”

 The Community Programs include community facilities and the water and environmental programs.  In Fiscal Year 2014 USDA Rural Development assisted communities through $51.8 million for health facilities, fire siren, training and technical assistance, and various building and expansions.  For water and environmental programs, 11 communities and 10,700 rural residents were helped by $8.9 million that provided safe, potable drinking water and sanitary wastewater disposal systems.

 Fillmore County Hospital was awarded a USDA Rural Development Community Facility Direct Loan of $3.27 million and a Community Facility Loan Guarantee for $1 million that will be issued by Heartland Bank in Geneva, NE.  The funds will be used to build a 10 bed Behavioral Health Facility located adjacent to the hospital in Geneva, Nebraska.  A loan from Perennial Power received through the USDA Rural Development Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program and funding from Fillmore County Hospital completed the funding package.

 USDA Rural Development provided funds of more than $2.6 million and grant funds of $1 million to the City of Atkinson to correct inadequacies with the city’s current wastewater disposal system by constructing a new lift station and mechanical treatment plant.  Due to the change in regulations, the present wastewater treatment plant did not meet compliance.  Nancy Kopejtka was also nominated by USDA RD staff for the Clerk of the Year award.   She is always very responsive to requests for information and documentation, at times even anticipating what was going to be needed before staff asks for it.  Her friendly, positive attitude along with her motivation enabled the recently completed wastewater project to progress very efficiently.

  For more information contact the Rural Development office nearest you.  You can locate an office by visiting:  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/NE-ContactUs.html.  Visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne for information on all of Rural Development’s programs.

 For additional information on RD projects, please visit Rural Development’s new interactive web map featuring program funding and success stories for fiscal years 2009-2013. The data can be found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html.

 President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA’s investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.