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USDA Enhances the Quality of Life in Rural Areas by Building or Improving Essential Community Service Facilities

Name
Christopher Stewart
Email
Christopher.Stewart@ny.usda.gov
Phone
(315) 477-6436
City
Syracuse
Release Date

USDA Enhances the Quality of Life in Rural Areas by Building or Improving Essential Community Service Facilities

 

SYRACUSE, June 27, 2018 – NY State Director for Rural Development, Richard Mayfield, today announced 2 community projects investing over $51 million in rural NY – this announcement was part of a nationwide investment by the USDA totaling $237 million across 119 rural projects in 29 states.

 

   “These projects demonstrate the USDA’s continued commitment to the needs of rural communities in our state and will directly contribute to the safety and well-being of these communities – for years to come,” Mayfield said. “Under the leadership of Secretary Perdue and through partnerships with small towns and cities, USDA is working to change that by investing in essential community facilities such as schools, public safety equipment, and modern medical facilities that attract new residents, retain existing ones and make rural communities competitive places to live, work and play.”

   Projects in rural New York include:

 

  • Town of Coxsackie – Funds will include $51,418,000 in loan funds to construct a 98-bed corrections facility along with administration and operations spaces for the county sheriff. The existing facility in the village of Catskill is one of the oldest in New York State. The majority of the existing jail has 56 beds, but routinely has between 90 and 110 inmates, requiring Greene County to board prisoners in surrounding facilities.

     

  • Town of Black Brook – Funds will include $170,000 in loan and $29,000 in grant for the purchase of a new 2017 International Hx620n plow truck. The township is located in the southern portion of Clinton County. The new plow truck will better service the roads and highway within the township and its nearly 1,500 residents.

     

       More than 100 types of projects are eligible for USDA Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally and state-recognized Native American tribes. Applicants and projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less. There is no limit on the size of the loans. Loan amounts have ranged from $10,000 to $165 million.

     

   To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).

   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 services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.