RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 24, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $400 thousand to improve critical community facilities to benefit 8,400 rural residents in North Carolina.
“Graham County is set for growth as a community,” said USDA Rural Development State Director in North Carolina Robert Hosford. “This much needed updated equipment to serve their growing community and this investment from the Trump Administration will help enable this growth.”
Background:
In Graham County this Rural Development investment of a $325,000 loan and $75,000 grant will be used to purchase a new sanitation truck, garbage trailer with walking floor assembly, and dumpsters.
The purchase of new equipment will allow the sanitation department to keep the county clean while maintaining more feasible costs.
The county currently has three sanitation trucks, two of which are over 20 years old.
USDA is funding 44 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The investments can be used to build or upgrade schools, libraries, clinics and public safety facilities.
“Rural America relies on safe, modern community facilities to ensure access to essential services such as education, health care and public safety,” USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Bette Brand said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA continues to be a strong partner with rural communities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Brand announced projects today in Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
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.
Interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility details. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants a detailed overview of the application process.
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 such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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