Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $39.3 million in loans and grants for 68 projects that will help rural businesses and communities in 26 states.
The City of Superior Utilities Department in Superior, Nebraska will receive a $300,000 Rural Economic Development grant to finance the purchase of equipment that will be part of the Brodstone Memorial Hospital Specialty Clinic Expansion project. The expansion project will include space for doctors’ offices, patient examination rooms, nurses’ stations, waiting rooms, and restrooms. After the expansion project at The Brodstone Memorial Hospital, the new clinic will greatly enhance the health care services and improve access to specialty care in Nuckolls County and the surrounding area.
"Supporting small businesses and rural communities helps create jobs and promotes economic development," Vilsack said. "This funding allows communities to provide important services and gives businesses access to capital."
The $39.3 million in total funding is being provided through the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) programs, the Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) program.
Six economic development groups have been selected to receive $2.7 million through the IRP program to capitalize low-interest loan funds for business projects in rural communities. The RMAP program will provide seven microenterprises with $3.8 million through revolving loan funds and technical assistance grants.
Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.
USDA Rural Development has a strong track record of strengthening rural businesses and economies through its Rural Business-Cooperative Service. For example, Rural Development awarded the Carthage Pavilion Assisted-Living facility a $1.36 million Rural Economic Development loan to transform a vacant hospital building into the only assisted-living facility in Smith County. The Carthage, Tenn., facility, gives 42 seniors the opportunity to live in an environment that is safe and enjoyable. This important Rural Development investment provided the residents of rural Tennessee with access to a top-quality facility that will enhance residents' quality of life and create jobs for the future.
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (#USDARD) has invested $11 billion to start or expand 103,000 rural businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 7,000 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; financed 180,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.