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Montana Communities Receive USDA Investments in Public Safety, Child Care

Name
Sue Kerver
Phone
City
Bozeman
Release Date

BOZEMAN, Mont., Jan. 27, 2022 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Montana State Director for Rural Development, Kathleen Williams, highlighted four Montana projects as part of a larger national announcement from the USDA. Projects in Hardin, Twin Bridges, Harlowton, and the Plains-Paradise communities are receiving funding through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program.

“Investments in childcare and public safety are critical to the livability of our rural communities,” said Kathleen Williams, Montana State Director for USDA Rural Development. “We have to invest in our kids, we have to invest in our firefighters and law enforcement – that’s key to not only retaining families in our rural areas, but attracting new families looking for safe and supportive communities.”

The projects announced are:

  • Safety and response gear and equipment for ten volunteer firefighters at the Plains-Paradise Rural Fire Department in Sanders County. This will improve firefighter safety as well as provide better care for the community.
     
  • Safety gear and equipment, and car and body cameras for the Wheatland County Sheriff’s Department. Based out of Harlowton, the department covers both Wheatland and Golden Valley Counties.
     
  • Public safety data management software and equipment for the City of Hardin Police Department. These office upgrades will improve the ability of the department to map and analyze reports, and better serve the community.
     
  • Kid Country Day Care in Twin Bridges will invest in facilities and operational improvements to better serve children and families in Twin Bridges and surrounding Madison County communities.

The Montana announcement is part of a larger announcement by USDA Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, who announced that USDA is investing $1 billion to build and improve critical community facilities in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Guam.

Background:

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 fewer. For more information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-program.

Interested parties should contact USDA Rural Development's Montana state office for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants (PDF, 669 KB) for a detailed overview of the application process.

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. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

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.