Includes Grant Funding for 2 Iowa Hospitals to Expand Access to Health Care
DES MOINES, Aug. 11, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that USDA is awarding $340,000 in grants to improve health care facilities in two rural Iowa communities. The Biden-Harris Administration made these funds available in the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Programs through its historic legislative package, the American Rescue Plan Act.
“At USDA, these grants are designed to build, renovate, and equip health care provider facilities such as hospitals and clinics to help build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system,” said Director Greenfield. “Under the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary Vilsack, USDA is supporting the critical need to keep these rural hospitals and their medical services up and running, so that people in our hometowns across Iowa have reliable access to care when they need it.”
Manning Regional Healthcare in Carroll County will receive a $126,200 grant to help purchase a 32-slice computerized tomography (CT) scanner. This project will replace the existing 16-slice CT scanner that is currently below the industry standard. The new CT scanner will allow medical staff to scan patients who have metal in their bodies.
Mercy Medical Center - Newton in Jasper County will receive a $174,900 grant to help renovate the hospital laboratory. This project will increase the square footage of the lab and add a second draw room to assist staff with adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols. The hospital is also receiving a $39,200 grant to cover contracted costs associated with COVID screeners.
USDA will announce additional awardees for Emergency Rural Health Care Grants in the coming weeks and months. Today’s news was part of a larger announcement that USDA is awarding $74 million in grants to improve health care facilities in rural towns across the Nation.
Background: Emergency Rural Health Care Grants
Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021 to deliver immediate economic relief to people impacted by the pandemic. Within months after the Act’s passage, USDA responded quickly by making this funding available to ensure the long-term availability of rural health care services.
In August 2021, USDA made the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants available through the American Rescue Plan Act to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to health care services and nutrition assistance.
The assistance is helping provide immediate relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and local communities. USDA is administering the funds through Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program.
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 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. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, 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.
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