USDA Rural Development Community Programs Director in Kansas, Sháne Hastings, announced that in fiscal year 2016 the agency financed 27 projects across the state totaling more than $56 million. The financing was provided by the agency’s Community Facilities Program to preserve jobs and improve the quality of life in rural Kansas.
“We provide financing to rural areas to ensure current and future rural residents have access to modern, effective health care, up-to-date educational facilities, and quality public safety resources,” said Hastings. “All three industries are vital to the health of rural communities, and we focus on partnering with those entities that work collaboratively to provide residents with the services they need.”
USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program provides assistance to public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and Federally Recognized Tribes to build, expand, or improve facilities and services in rural communities with 20,000 residents or less. These facilities include child care centers, hospitals, medical clinics, assisted-living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings and transportation. Through this program, USDA ensures that such facilities are available to all rural residents.
In 2016, USDA Rural Development invested $56,167,700 in 27 rural Kansas projects.
Health Care Projects
USDA Rural Development invested $37,263,300 in the following six projects:
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Cheyenne County Public Building Commission
$5,000,000 Loan
Funds will be used to construct a new 10 room, assisted living facility in St. Francis, as well as expanding and renovating the county’s existing nursing home.
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Gove County Medical Center
$15,300 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase a new autoclave sterilizing machine for the Gove County Hospital.
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Minneola District Hospital, Clark County
$700,000 Loan
Funds will be used to renovate and expand the city’s existing critical access hospital.
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Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Nemaha County
$2,300,000 Loan
Funds will be used to purchase, install, and activate hospital equipment and software to an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system.
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Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Jackson County
$1,523,000 Loan
Funds will be used to construct a new 4,800 square-foot Behavioral Health Center.
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Smith County Public Building Commission
$27,725,000 Loan
Funds will be used to construct, equip and furnish a 62,000 square-foot critical assess hospital in Smith Center.
Education Projects
USDA Rural Development invested $18,087,310 in the following eight projects:
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Benedictine College, Atchison County
$18,000,000 Loan
Funds will be used to construct an addition to the science and engineering building, Westerman Hall, on the Benedictine College campus. The project will add classrooms, laboratories, restrooms, IT space, and faculty space for meeting and counseling students outside of class.
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City of Fowler, Meade County
$1,400 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase shelves for the Fowler Public Library.
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City of Garnett, Anderson County
$5,400 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase and install modern lighting in the Garnett Public Library.
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City of Kingman, Kingman County
$25,000 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase equipment for the county fairground.
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City of McCracken, Rush County
$4,500 Grant
Funds will be used to install a new HVAC system in the McCracken Public Library.
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Historic Preservation Corporation, Morris County
$13,610 Grant
Funds will be used to complete exterior improvements to the Art and History Center located in Council Grove.
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USD #235 Uniontown, Bourbon County
$25,000 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase new security cameras, keycards and school bus radios for the district.
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USD #408 Marion-Florence, Marion County
$12,400 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase new playground equipment for the district’s elementary school.
Public Safety Projects
USDA Rural Development invested $817,090 in the following 13 projects:
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City of Danville, Harper County
$11,200 Grant
Funds will be used to renovate city hall, by installing a new roof and doors.
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City of Girard, Crawford County
$24,300 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase firefighting and emergency management system equipment, and a
patrol vehicle for the City of Girard’s Police Department.
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City of Humboldt, Allen County
$1,500 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase protective gear for the city’s fire department.
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City of Kingman, Kingman County
$7,800 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase five police body cameras for the city’s police department.
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City of Minneola, Clark County
$3,400 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase protective gear for the city’s fire department.
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City of Pleasanton, Linn County
$84,000 Loan and $16,000 Grant
Funds will be used to equip the city’s newly constructed community center, which also serves as the tornado shelter.
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City of Stark, Neosho County
$25,000 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase a firetruck for the city’s fire department.
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City of Wilson, Ellsworth County
$125,000 Loan
Funds will be used to develop curbs and gutters for an access road in a residential development.
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Elk County
$25,000 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase a new patrol vehicle for the county’s sheriff’s department.
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Hamilton County
$27,490 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase a power stretcher with a powered loading system for the county’s ambulances.
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Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
$10,400 Grant
Funds will be used to make street improvements within the community.
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Riley County Fire District No. 1
$375,000 Loan and $25,000 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to replace inadequate equipment currently being used at 16 rural Riley County fire stations.
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Twin Valley Developmental Services, Inc., Washington County
$33,600 Loan and $22,400 Grant
Funds will be used to purchase four vehicles to safely transport patients to medical appointments, consultations and other activities.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $215.8 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.
For more information on USDA Rural Development Programs, visit the agency’s website at www.rd.usda.gov/ks or by calling (785) 271-2700.