Hazelhurst, Ga., Nov. 17, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director Reggie A. Taylor today announced that USDA is awarding $1.9 million in Emergency Rural Healthcare grants.
“At USDA Rural Development, we are committed to making sure that people, no matter where they live, have access to high-quality and reliable health care services like urgent care, primary care, and dental care. That’s why I've been a proud champion of programs like the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants, which was created by President Biden’s historic legislative package, the American Rescue Plan Act.,” Taylor said.
Taylor made the announcement with Jeff Davis Hospital Authority where in Hazelhurst the Hospital Authority was awarded $704,600 to construct an outpatient clinic. The new facility will offer Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Pediatric Care, and Pulmonary Care to the community.
Jeff Davis Hospital Authority also this year received $4.120,000 from Rural Development’s Community Facilities Loan Guarantee Program. to make improvements to upgrade the nurses' station, patient rooms, pharmacy, medical records, intensive care units, areas of the south, east, and west wings, and the emergency room entrance. Many of these areas have not been renovated since 1963.
Additional Emergency Rural Healthcare Grant awards announced in Georgia today are below:
- In Bacon County, the Bacon County Health Services, Inc. will receive a $709,900 Emergency Rural Healthcare Grant to construct an outpatient facility to help with COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, education for the pandemic, and to provide essential medical services to the rural community.
- In Appling County, Healthie Georgia Corporation will use a $409,100 Emergency Rural Healthcare Grant to construct a community center in rural Baxley, Georgia. The facility will include Primary care.
Background: Emergency Rural Healthcare Grant
Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021 to deliver immediate economic relief to people impacted by the pandemic. Within months after the Act’s passage, USDA responded quickly by making this funding available to ensure the long-term availability of rural health care services.
In August 2021, USDA made the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants available through the American Rescue Plan Act to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to health care services and nutrition assistance.
The assistance is helping provide immediate relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and local communities. USDA is administering the funds through Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.