$8.3 Million in USDA Rural Development Loan Assisting with Project
LE MARS, Iowa – April 19, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield participated in a ground-breaking ceremony at the Floyd Valley Hospital (FVH) in the northwest Iowa community of Le Mars. The ground-breaking marked the beginning of construction for the hospital expansion serving residents of the Plymouth County town and surrounding rural areas.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has made infrastructure a top priority,” said Director Greenfield. “And they have delivered. Hospitals are a foundation for thriving and healthy communities – they are critical infrastructure needed to safeguard the health of rural Iowans. USDA is committed to promoting the quality of life in our hometowns throughout Iowa.”
USDA Rural Development funded a $8.3 million loan to help to support the project. This project will allow the city to expand the existing health clinic by 14,300 square-feet, expand the physical therapy space by 5,300 square-feet, upgrade the facility's geothermal system, and make other essential mechanical and electrical upgrades.
FVH currently operates a 25-bed critical access hospital in Le Mars, Iowa. Due to continued growth in the surrounding population, there is a need for upgrades and expansion.
This funding was made available through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grants program. The program provides funding for affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. Rural areas that are eligible include cities, villages, townships, and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data.
“USDA partners with local leaders to provide tools and resources to support rural communities,” Greenfield added. “By investing in healthcare infrastructure, hospitals, dental clinics, ambulances and more, USDA can serve as a catalyst to improve the long term viability of rural health care services.”
Contact USDA Rural Development
Residents, businesses and communities in Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury counties are served by the USDA Rural Development office in Le Mars. For more information please call (712) 546-5149 Ext. 4 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA Rural Development has 10 other 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, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
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.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In 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.
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