Health Care Funding will Benefit Mt. San Rafael in Trinidad, CO
The Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $2 million in the Mt. San Rafael Hospital in Trinidad, CO through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The investments can be used to build or upgrade hospitals, schools, libraries, clinics and Public safety facilities.
“Essential community infrastructure is key in ensuring that rural areas enjoy the same basic quality of life and services enjoyed by those in urban areas,” said Sallie Clark, USDA Rural Development Colorado State Director. Mt. San Rafael Hospital will utilize a $2 million loan and a $50,000 grant in additional financing to renovate their facility and construct a 14-bed medical/surgical unit, a new Emergency Department with 10 treatment spaces, a new central utilities plant, and to purchase monitoring equipment for the Emergency Department. In FY 2019, USDA RD provided the hospital with a $25.7 million direct loan and a $7 million guaranteed loan. “Hospitals are the cornerstone of a successful, viable rural community and can also be an economic engine for the area,” said Clark.
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 less.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information in Colorado, visit www.rd.usda.gov/co.