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Trump Administration Invests $53,200 in Lewis County C-1 School District

Name
Lindsay Cheek
City
Columbia
Release Date

Investment Adds an Electric Bus to the District’s Fleet

COLUMBIA, MO, Oct. 21, 2020 – The Trump Administration, along with Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Missouri Jeff Case, today announced that the USDA is awarding $53,200 to Lewis County C-1 School District to add an electric school bus to its fleet.

“Hard working rural Missourians understand the importance of keeping costs in line—whether on the farm, in business, or even in the public schools their tax dollars support.  With this addition, district residents can rest assured the Lewis County School District also values good stewardship, both environmentally and fiscally,” said Trump Administration Official State Director Case. 

“This is the second electric school bus the agency has invested in in northeast Missouri this year and I am pleased to share this innovative way in which Rural Development, and other partners, are working together to stretch education dollars further for our rural students and educators.  Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Missouri in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

Lewis County C-1 School District will use a $53,200 Community Facilities Grant to help purchase the electric bus and charging station.  Additional funding will be contributed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resource Volkswagen Trust Fund Grant; Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative; and the school district. 

Lewis County C-1 School District, with an enrollment of more than 850 students, spans 410 square miles throughout five northeast Missouri counties.  The district currently operates a fleet of 23 diesel-fueled busses running 16 regular routes and a shuttle service for students involved in after-school activities.  Costs associated with transportation make up a large percentage of the district’s annual budget; this purchase will stretch the district’s funding by decreasing annual fuel and maintenance costs.  The electric bus will not only have an estimated longer life than its diesel counterparts, but will provide dependable, environmentally friendly transportation to this rural school district.

Funding for today’s announcement was made available through the $150 million in grants included in the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act that President Trump signed into law on June 6, 2019. These grants are to help eligible rural communities continue their recovery from the devastating effects of hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters such as recent years’ severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in Missouri.

Currently, Missouri has 84 counties included in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Major Disaster Declarations; view the complete list of the state’s designated counties

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 eligible rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.  Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are exhausted. 

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/mo.

Information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting www.rd.usda.gov/mo, by calling (573) 876-0976, or by emailing RDMissouri@usda.gov.

USDA Rural Development has 25 offices across the state to serve the 2.2 million residents living in rural Missouri.  Office locations include a state office in Columbia, along with local offices in Butler, Charleston, Chillicothe, Clinton, Dexter, Eldon, Farmington, Higginsville, Houston, Kennett, Kirksville, Maryville, Mexico, Moberly, Neosho, New London, Poplar Bluff, Richmond, Rolla, Sedalia, Springfield, St. Joseph, Troy, and West Plains.

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

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