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Trump Administration Invests Over $385,000 in Community Economic Impact Initiatives in Rural Iowa

Name
Matthew Doyle
Phone
City
Des Moines, Iowa
Release Date

 

DES MOINES, Oct. 30, 2020 – The Trump Administration, along with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Iowa Grant Menke, today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $385,300 in 15 projects to improve critical community facilities in rural Iowa.  benefiting 29,855 rural residents in Iowa. These projects, funded through the Community Facilities Economic Impact Initiative Grant Program, will benefit 29,855 residents in rural Iowa.

“Modern facilities for essential services such as health care, public safety, education, and emergency response are key to healthy, safe and prosperous communities,” said Menke. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is strongly committed to the future of rural communities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

The following 15 projects announced today will help enhance essential community facilities and improve quality of life across rural Iowa:

·       The Community Hospital, Inc. in Hamburg will use a $50,000 grant to purchase bariatric beds and a cardiac monitor.  The hospital does not currently have any bariatric beds and must rent them if needed.  The current cardiac monitoring system is 14 years old and can only monitor one patient at a time.  This equipment will provide the highest degree of proficiency, safety, accuracy and reliability to ensure the highest quality of patient care.

·       The City of Bellevue will use a $9,400 grant to purchase security cameras for all five entry/exits to the City of Bellevue.  The addition of these cameras will increase the safety of the citizens and help police in investigations.

·       The Mahaska County Hospital in Oskaloosa will use a $17,500 grant to purchase a cardiac stress testing system.  The hospitals current equipment has surpassed its useful life and is costly to repair.  The new equipment has more diagnostic and safety features and will better serve the community.

·       The City of Eddyville is receiving a $38,500 grant to purchase a street sweeper and related equipment to be used by the city maintenance department.  Existing equipment is worn out and past its useful life with numerous costly repairs and maintenance issues.

·       The City of Livermore will use a $26,100 grant to purchase new emergency response communication equipment that is compatible with the new Humboldt County emergency dispatch system.  Existing equipment will become obsolete and not function when the County switches to the new system this fall.

·       The City of Grand River is receiving a $38,000 grant to purchase a truck and snow blade for the city's public works department. The truck will replace a 35-year-old truck with high miles and mechanical problems which make it unsafe and unreliable.  

·       The City of Battle Creek will use a $50,000 grant to purchase a fire tanker truck. The truck will be bigger than their current tanker which holds less water and cannot keep up with the demand for water during an emergency situation. The truck will assist the firefighters in protecting their community.

·       The City of Rhodes is receiving a $15,000 grant to purchase equipment for the newly constructed fire station.  Equipment such as a generator, HVAC system, water heater and related equipment will be purchased and installed.

·       The City of College Springs will use a $50,000 grant to purchase a used tanker truck.  Volunteer firefighters provide fire protection to the city and surrounding area. The current tanker truck is old and repairs have become costly. The new truck will be able to transport water to rural areas.

·       The City of Corning is receiving a $50,000 grant to replace existing rooftop HVAC units with new gas units at the City Hall/Community Center building.  These units will replace failing units and provide for additional efficiencies.

·       The City of Woodbine will use a $21,100 grant to purchase emergency warning sirens.  The current system is old, outdated, and parts for repair are no longer manufactured.  The new system will have stronger signals to alert all residents of potential storm risks.

·       The City of Humboldt is receiving a $4,100 grant to purchase communication equipment for the fire department.  This equipment will be compatible with the new Humboldt County emergency dispatch system.  When the county updates their equipment the city's existing radios, pagers, and communication equipment will become obsolete and will not function in the new system.

·       The City of Ottosen will use a $3,300 grant to purchase new emergency response communication equipment for the city of Ottosen. This equipment is compatible with the new Humboldt County emergency dispatch system and will allow the city to be in continuous contact with the county, continuing efficient emergency response services for the city's 55 residents.

·       The City of Otho is receiving a $3,400 grant to purchase a generator for the City of Otho's fire station.  The fire station serves as the designated shelter for the community in the event of an emergency.  The station currently runs on 100% electricity and has no backup generator.  This will help improve the quality of life for rural residents.

·       The City of Albia will use a $8,900 grant to purchase a truck dump box, slide-in stainless steel sander, reversible ploy, and related equipment to be installed on an existing chassis to be used for maintenance of city streets, street cleaning, snow removal and treatment for ice and snow.  This equipment will replace worn out equipment and save repair costs and maintenance issues.

Background:

USDA is investing in 15 projects in rural Iowa through the Community Facilities Economic Impact Initiative Grant Program. This program provides funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression. An essential community facility is one that provides an essential service to the local community, is needed for the orderly development of the community, serves a rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings.

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 local USDA Rural Development Iowa Office for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility details. The Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants also provides a detailed overview of the application process.

USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million residents living in rural Iowa. Office locations include a state office in Des Moines, along with local offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly. These offices help to 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/ia or call (515) 284-4663. Follow us on Twitter @RD_Iowa.

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