USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode today announced funding to support the renovation and expansion of Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Tennessee Historical Society’s Hiwassee River Heritage Center.
“Honoring and sharing the heritage of this community with others improves the lives of its citizens both economically and culturally and provides an important historical account and education for us all,” said Goode.
A $50,000 Community Facility grant will help to double the space of their existing building by adding an exhibit hall and 50-seat classroom. The additional exhibit space will allow expansion of the exhibits to include artifacts.
The Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant 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.
Others participating in the event included Senator Lamar Alexander Field Representative Jeff Lewis, and Senator Bob Corker Field Representative Claire McVay.
USDA Rural Development is moving investments to rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty. Since 2009, the agency has assisted more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 230 communities in all 95 counties of Tennessee, investing more than $5.4 Billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Southeast Tennessee contact the Chattanooga Area Office at 423.756.2239, or 800-342-3149 x 1492. Visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.