Author: IL State Director Pam Monetti
Date: Nov 20th, 2024
The success of every community across IL depends on the health and wellbeing of its people. At USDA Rural Development, we believe that everyone should live in a healthy and safe environment. We want to provide health care leaders and organizations with the information they need to take full advantage of these programs.
One of the ways we support healthy communities is through our Community Facilities programs, which helps with critical community infrastructure such as hospitals, medical centers, childcare centers, and more. For example, Wabash General Hospital District received a $13 million loan through our Community Facility Direct Loan program that enabled them to expand their operation significantly to better serve Wabash and surrounding communities. This project was really exciting to see come to fruition and serve the rural people of southern Illinois.
Project Details:
Wabash General Hospital District received a $13 million direct loan that was used to construct a new medical building, expand their existing orthopedic and rehabilitation building, and renovate the existing hospital’s cafeteria. The new construction included an additional 33 exam and procedure rooms, an oncology suite, and administrative offices onsite. In addition to the Community Facility loan, Wabash Hospital was awarded an additional $2 million loan through RD’s Rural Economic Development Loan program (REDLG) in partnership with Wabash Telephone Cooperative. This project is going to serve approximately 50,000 people throughout Wabash County and surrounding communities.
On this National Rural Health Day, USDA is excited to announce the new USDA Rural Health Program Index. This inventory makes it easy for rural community leaders and others to identify which USDA programs and resources can help with specific health needs in their communities.
The index is a curated library of USDA programs and resources that support rural health. I encourage everyone in rural Illinois to use the index to find the assistance that’s right for their community.
At USDA, we work hard to help rural and Tribal communities overcome challenges to health care access. Our programs ensure people have access to locally sourced nutritious foods and that those in remote areas have high-speed internet so they can access telemedicine services when they need them. USDA also partners with communities to build hospitals in rural areas and keep others open during times of financial stress and unforeseen hardships.
As I’ve traveled across Illinois visiting our rural communities, I’ve seen the unique challenges people face accessing the health care resources they need and deserve. I’ve also seen how the Biden-Harris Administration and USDA programs have helped meet those needs.
The USDA Rural Health Program Index will contribute to more stories like Wabash General Hospital District in Illinois.
Join us this National Rural Health Day, Thursday, Nov. 21, as we celebrate all we have done and will continue to do to keep rural Illinois healthy. Because, when rural people thrive, all of America thrives.
You can learn more about USDA’s programs and explore the Rural Health Program Index on our website.
Thanks for reading!
Warmly,
Pam Monetti