Projects Include Funding for Rural Health Care, Food Security and Emergency Response Services
TEMPLE, Texas, Nov. 19, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is investing $222 million to build and improve critical community facilities in 44 states, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. This includes $132 million to support health care, food security, and emergency response services for more than 850,000 rural residents in 37 states.
Acting State Director Daniel Torres announced that six of those projects totaling $1.4 million are in Texas. This community infrastructure funding will benefit nearly 70,000 people in rural communities in Texas.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is delivering on its promise to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild our economy,” Torres Small said. “Rural Americans need emergency response, hospitals and medical facilities, and USDA’s loans and grants invest in critical infrastructure to make that possible. USDA Rural Development puts rural people at the forefront of investment and opportunity to help us all build back better, stronger, and more resilient.”
USDA is investing in 536 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The assistance will fund essential community services that will help keep rural America resilient in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The projects will finance emergency response vehicles and equipment; build or improve hospitals and clinics; and combat food insecurity.
In Texas:
- El Progreso Memorial Library will use a $260,000 loan and $140,000 grant to make much needed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system improvements and to change all fluorescent lights to LED Lights. These improvements will allow for utilities to the library be more cost effective, which in turn, will allow for increased budgeted items for services and programs for the nearly 16,000 rural people it serves.
- Terlingua Common School District is receiving a $100,000 grant to purchase major physical education equipment for the new gymnasium. All physical education, assemblies, and school events that involve all students and staff currently takes place outdoors and this will provide an indoor space for such events. These improvements will benefit 233 rural people.
- The city of Cisco will use a $57,000 grant to purchase a Fire Command Vehicle and Public Works Vehicle. The Fire Command Vehicle will provide first-line command for incidents relative to fire and emergency service protection. The Public Works Vehicle will allow the city to replace the current vehicle which is over 20 years old. The vehicles will help to provide services to nearly 4,000 rural people
Background:
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less. For more information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-program.
Today’s investments complement the recently announced funding availability under USDA’s Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program, which also is being administered through the Community Facilities program. Through this program, USDA is making up to $500 million available through the American Rescue Plan to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services and nutrition assistance.
Under the Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program, Recovery Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are expended. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.
Interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants (PDF, 669 KB) for a detailed overview of the application process.
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 our 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, ensuring access to 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.