COLUMBUS, Ohio, October 12, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Jonathan McCracken today announced USDA is investing $3.4 million to improve health care facilities across rural Ohio. These Emergency Rural Health Care Grants will help seven health care organizations expand critical services for nearly 37,000 residents.
“Rural health care centers, senior care centers, and hospitals are vital to our communities and provide critical services that maintain the health and well-being of our people,” said McCracken. “Today’s project announcements will help these facilities recover portions of revenue lost during to the COVID-19 pandemic, and help build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system, protecting the quality of life in rural Ohio.”
USDA Rural Development promotes a healthy community and environment through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants to make sure people, kids and families have access to the health care they need. The grants support the ability of rural communities to provide health care to the people and places in our country that often lack access.
- Mark Milford Hicksville Junction Township Hospital District will use a $368,720 grant to help restore and upgrade significant components of equipment inventory, including devices that enable core functionality in intensive care and respiratory diagnostics for Community Memorial Hospital. The new equipment will be used immediately in front line care for the treatment of current and future COVID-19 inpatients as the virus continues to circulate at an endemic level within an underserved population. In addition, funding will support future pandemic preparedness and raise baseline surge capacity across hospital operations.
- Walnut Hills Retirement Communities in Walnut Creek will use a $1 million grant to recover a portion of the lost revenues suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Loss of funds resulted from several sources cutting services including hospital surgeries, hesitant applicants, and increased staff and operating costs stemming from PPE and extra COVID precautions. With this assistance, the financial disruption from COVID will be mitigated and help Walnut Hills continue to serve its residents and patients.
- West Liberty Care Center in West Liberty, Good Shepard Home in Fostoria, Brown Memorial Home in Circleville, and GentleBrook in Hartville will use a combined $1.8 million grant to recover lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment will give these facilities a stronger financial footing to continue to operate at a high level and serve the people in this communities.
- Center of Hope in Bladensburg will use a $299,108 grant to purchase new electric box truck for food pickups. This nonprofit organization provides groceries and other support services to thousands of rural Ohioans. This box truck will help them prepare for expected business growth. Additionally, this vehicle will help reduce their annual emissions by at least seven tons of CO2 a year and save thousands in fuel and maintenance costs.
USDA 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/oh. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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