RIPLEY, Tenn., Apr. 19, 2022 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development – Tennessee is pleased to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Lauderdale Community Hospital in Ripley, Tennessee.
“Lauderdale Community Hospital (LCH) would like to express its great appreciation to the continued dedication of the USDA Rural Development leaders, in providing the necessary guarantee that ensures financing so that our new hospital gets built,” Trent Skaggs, CEO of RHG Consolidated LLC said. “This hospital is not just for the present generation, but for future ones to come as well.”
The Lauderdale Community Hospital, in partnership with Stone Bank headquartered in Mountain View, Arkansas, received a $15.9 million loan through the Business & Industry Loan Guarantee program. This Rural Development investment will assist Lauderdale Community Hospital LLC with the construction of a critical access hospital to replace the outdated facility, which originally opened in 1983. This project will save 93 jobs and will provide access to modern healthcare for rural residents.
"We have worked with Lauderdale Community Hospital in many ways and are grateful for the partnership and trust they have in our agency," Arlisa Armstrong, Tennessee State Director said. "These investments are essential to brining good-paying jobs and economic opportunity back to rural America - and drive the U.S. to compete in the 21st century."
Others participating in the event include Norman Hendren, CEO – Lauderdale Community Hospital, Maurice Gaines, Mayor of Lauderdale County, TN, Craig Fitzhugh, Mayor of Ripley, TN, Dwayne Dixon, Mayor of Gates, TN, Barbara Manns, Mayor of Henning, TN, Jeff Parrish, Senator Marsha Blackburn Office, Matt Varino, Senator Bill Hagerty Office, Weston Downing, Representative David Kustoff Office, USDA Rural Development – Tennessee Representatives Roe Hughes, Area Specialist, Joel Howard, Business Program Director, and Arlisa Armstrong, State Director.
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/tn. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In 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.
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