State Director Greenfield announces grants in Adams, Cass, Fayette, Harrison, Howard, Kossuth, Monona, Montgomery, Osceola, Page, Ringgold, Shelby and Taylor counties
DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 20, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that the Department is investing $2,790,666 in grants to build and improve critical community infrastructure in 13 Iowa counties.
“These grants will help rural communities invest in facilities and services that are vital to modern life in our hometowns, such as health care facilities, day-cares, libraries, first responder vehicles and street repairs,” said Director Greenfield. “The Biden-Harris Administration has made investing in infrastructure improvements a top priority. When we invest in rural Iowa, our rural neighbors thrive and prosper and that can help uplift us all.”
The 20 grants announced today were funded through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program.
-Stanton Child Resource Center Inc., a non-profit organization located in Stanton, is receiving a $1,000,000 grant to help build a new facility. This project will construct a 11,134 square foot building with a sick room, a storm shelter, an outdoor playground, and larger classrooms than the old facility. Once in operation, the new facility will have a capacity for 129 children, will better provide for the needs of families, and will promote economic development in rural Montgomery County. The project is financed through congressionally-directed spending funds.
-Provitin Community Fire District is receiving a $100,000 grant to build a fire station. A 6,600 square-foot facility will be constructed to include five overhead doors, a dedicated meeting room, an office, a restroom, a kitchen, and a utility room. Once completed, the new fire station in Howard County will allow first responders to operate more efficiently during emergencies and will promote the safety of residents of this rural community and fire district. The project is financed through the congressionally-directed spending funds.
-Ringgold County Day Care, a non-profit organization located in Mount Ayr, is receiving a $725,366 grant, which is congressionally-directed spending initiative funding, to renovate and expand. The project will construct additional classrooms to accommodate 30 more children, ages up to three years old, and provide new plumbing, kitchen appliances, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit. Once completed, the facility will increase child capacity, better provide for the needs of infants and toddlers, and help facilitate economic development in this rural community and surrounding rural area.
-The city of Burt is receiving a $16,200 grant to help purchase two early warning sirens. This project will alert people inside the city limits during emergency situations. The sirens are essential public safety equipment which will serve all residents in the rural Kossuth County community of Burt, population 533.
-The city of New Market in Taylor County is receiving a $12,100 grant to purchase a tractor attachment and snow blade equipment. This project will enable the city to conduct daily maintenance operations and to clear snow from roads in the winter. This project will promote safer routes of transportation for 415 townspeople, as well as for visitors and residents of the surrounding rural areas.
-The city of Braddyville is receiving a $44,100 grant to purchase a new tractor. This project will replace a damaged unit in need of expensive repairs. Once in operation, the equipment will work seamlessly with the city's snowblade and facilitate more efficient maintenance operations to benefit the 159 residents of the rural city in Page County.
-The city of Red Oak in Montgomery County is receiving a $178,000 grant to purchase an ambulance. This project will support more reliable rescue and transfer operations. Once in operation, the new ambulance will facilitate emergency services for 5,742 residents of the city and surrounding rural areas.
-The city of Persia is receiving a $64,000 grant to purchase a skid loader and mower. This project will replace an aging and deteriorating mower in need of repair and provide a skid loader to aid in road and park maintenance. Once in operation, the equipment will facilitate more efficient support operations to benefit the 319 residents of the city in Harrison County.
-The city of Missouri Valley in Harrison County is receiving a $200,000 grant to help repair streets. This project will remove old pavement and replace it with 7-inch deep concrete pavement on Superior Street from 6th Street to 8th Street, on St. Clair Street from 5th Street to 8th Street, and on Michigan Street from 6th Street to 7th Street. The project will also reconstruct driveway and sidewalk transitions when necessary. Once completed, these street improvements will facilitate commerce and promote the safe transit of the 2,838 city residents and residents of the surrounding rural area.
-The city of West Union in Fayette County is receiving a $50,000 grant to purchase an emergency communication system. This project will provide equipment for essential public safety services. Once installed, the equipment will enable emergency responders to better serve all residents in the rural community of West Union, population 2,486, as well as residents of the surrounding rural areas.
-The city of Corning in Adams County is receiving a $80,700 grant to purchase a vehicle and equipment. This project will provide a dump truck and snow removal equipment with a blower to facilitate winter storm operations. This project will also fund new extrication equipment to assist in rescue and recovery situations. Once in service to the community, these improvements will make transportation routes safer for motorists and pedestrians in the city, population 1,635, as well as for visitors and residents of the surrounding rural areas.
-The city of Corning in Adams County is receiving a $7,200 grant to purchase a surveillance camera system and a DVR system. This project will help deter crime, assist with solving crimes, and may facilitate emergency response. The cameras will be located near major roadway intersections.
-The county of Osceola is receiving a $22,600 grant to purchase two power lift cot systems for the Osceola County Ambulance Services. This project will enable first responders to lift heavier patients, reduce manual lifting, improve guided loading and unloading, and lower the number of rescue personnel needed to operate the equipment. The power cots will allow for more efficient rescue operations and promote better patient care for the residents of this rural county.
-The city of Harlan in Shelby County is receiving a $50,000 grant to purchase two vehicles. This project will provide a new skid loader with a bucket to replace a unit in need of expensive repairs. The project will also provide a new police vehicle to replace one that is experiencing many mechanical and electrical failures. Once these vehicles go into service for the city, they will make maintenance and policing duties easier and safer and benefit the 5,106 residents of Harlan and the surrounding rural area.
-The city of Harlan in Shelby County is receiving a $42,400 grant to help rehabilitate the south side of Veteran's Auditorium. This project will replace the entranceway and parapet siding, update signage, install new gutters, and insert a new section of concrete near the entrance. Once completed, the improvements will facilitate blood drives, public health vaccinations, and emergency shelter for residents of this rural area in case of disasters.
-The city of Anita in Cass County is receiving a $16,000 grant to help purchase shingles and cover labor costs to re-roof the library. This project will install a new roof on the downtown building, ensuring the safety of books, equipment, staff and patrons. Once completed, the project will help the community promote equity for rural residents and create opportunities for growth in this rural county.
-The city of Blockton in Taylor County is receiving a $27,900 grant to purchase a tractor. This project will facilitate maintenance of roadway right-of-way areas, help control excess vegetation, and simplify the removal of downed limbs and trash from essential roadways. The project will promote safer routes of transportation for motorists and pedestrians in this rural community of with a population of 192 people.
-Alegent Health-Mercy Hospital in Adams County is receiving a $48,800 grant to purchase cardiac rehabilitation equipment. This project will provide a telemetry system, a recumbent bike, a treadmill, a stair-climber, and two cross-trainer machines. This equipment will help medical professionals at the hospital advance the health and safety of the 1,635 residents of Corning and residents of surrounding rural areas.
-Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Adams County is receiving a $49,700 grant to purchase arthroscopy instruments. This project will provide physicians and medical practitioners with advanced technology to bring quality in-patient, outpatient, and emergency healthcare to the community.
-The city of Soldier in Monona County is receiving a $55,000 grant to help purchase a fire truck. This project will help transport first responders, firefighting equipment, and water to emergency sites.
Contact USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a state office in Des Moines, along with area offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas in Iowa, call (515) 284-4663 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.