ATHENS, Ga., July 15, 2020 – Today as the Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $153 million to build and improve critical community facilities through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program; Georgia State Director for Rural Development Joyce White urges communities to apply while program funds are plentiful.
“Rural Georgia needs safe and modern facilities and infrastructure to help achieve greater quality of life and access to essential services,” Rural Development State Director Joyce White said. “I urge communities to contact us to apply for this versatile program, in Georgia we have $89 million loan and $710 grant allocation remaining to invest by September 30, 2020. I’d love to see all of these funds utilized for prosperity in Rural Georgia; we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Background:
USDA today announced funding for 94 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program; the projects were funded Jan. Feb, March and April 2020 and can be used to build or upgrade schools, libraries, clinics and public safety facilities. For example:
In Allentown, Georgia, a $20,000 loan will be used to purchase radios that will allow the city of Allentown to communicate within their own county (Twiggs) and with the other surrounding counties. The radios will improve the effective and efficient communication of the fire and public safety departments.
Lincoln County, Georgia will use a $65,000 loan and $35,000 grant to purchase a fully equipped ambulance.
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 Area office or our Community Programs Division at (706) 546-2171 for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility details. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants (PDF, 669 KB), 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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