The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $300,000 in grant funds to Jersey Community Hospital District to support opportunities for opioid prevention, treatment and recovery in Roodhouse and Jerseyville.
“Opioids and other drugs are sapping rural Illinois. This crisis impacts individuals and their families, it impacts our workforce, and it draws valuable resources from our communities,” said Douglas Wilson, USDA Rural Development Director, Illinois. “We must work on this issue from all directions: enforcement of our laws, education, and equally important, the treatment and recovery of those who are addicted. The treatment and care Jersey Community Hospital will be able to provide is an important part of this battle.”
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and renovate facilities in Roodhouse and Jerseyville. The Roodhouse building will house the rural health clinic and the Jerseyville location will serve as an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) Specialty Care and Administrative building. The Hospital Administration and Governing Board has made addressing substance misuse a priority. The facilities staff at each location will provide treatment, counseling, education and outreach efforts to combat the opioid crisis. This project will benefit the area’s 4,300 residents.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
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.