Investment will Help City Update Maintenance and Public Safety Equipment
COLUMBIA, MO, Sept. 17, 2020 – The Trump Administration, along with Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Missouri Jeff Case, today announced that the USDA is investing over $64,000 to modernize maintenance and public safety equipment in Morley, Mo.
“Missouri’s rural residents deserve modern infrastructure, equipment, and facilities in the communities they call home,” said Trump Administration Official State Director Case. “USDA Rural Development is doing its part to ensure this happens by investing in projects just like this one providing the city of Morley with needed, up-to-date equipment. 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.”
The city of Morley will use a $64,100 Community Facilities Grant to replace aging street department equipment with a new tractor and mower, allowing for personnel to better maintain city streets. Additionally, the funding will be used to purchase a MOSWIN (Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network, the statewide public safety communication system) digital radio system to replace local law enforcement’s outdated analog system, as well as new vests and cameras. Ultimately, this equipment will allow city personnel to better provide maintenance and public safety services to its citizens.
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.
Contact USDA Rural Development
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.
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