PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 12, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Margi Hoffmann today announced that USDA is awarding Clatsop Community Action (CCA) a grant of $237,900. This investment will be used to purchase two new food distribution trucks and new dry and cold storage for the CCA Regional Food Bank. The investment is expected to benefit 36,858 people. Hoffmann toured the Warrenton area distribution center Thursday morning and discussed community needs with Clatsop Community Action leadership and volunteers.
“The Biden-Harris Administration believes that strong communities are rooted in their people, and that is exactly what we’ve seen here in Warrenton and Astoria,” Hoffmann said. “All across Oregon, rural communities band together to bridge gaps and care for one another. The Emergency Rural Health Care Grants announced today will help rural Oregonians access mental health care safely, bring lifesaving medications to seniors, and make sure that no family is forced to choose between electricity or food. These are crucial investments made possible through historic legislation, but it takes the dedication and compassion of volunteers, first responders, and organizations like Clatsop Community Action to make them count.”
In addition to the three grants announced in Oregon, USDA is awarding $74 million in grants to improve health care facilities in rural towns across the Nation. The Biden-Harris Administration made these funds available in the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Programs through its historic legislative package, the American Rescue Plan Act.
The investments will help rural hospitals and health care providers implement telehealth and nutrition assistance programs, increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, build or renovate facilities, and purchase medical supplies. They also will help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits and Tribes solve regional rural health care problems and build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system in response to the pandemic. For example:
- In Lane County, a $58,200 grant will be used by South Lane Mental Health to purchase a covered gazebo, picnic tables and chairs to facilitate outdoor COVID safe therapy sessions, HEPA air purifiers for offices to further protect clients and clinicians and a new key fob system to increase security and the ability to screen visitors for COVID. The investment will benefit 46,791 people.
- In Union County, a $49,900 grant will be used by Elgin Health District to start a tele-pharmacy and enhance capabilities to respond to COVID-19. The residents of Elgin have been without a pharmacy for 15 years and must drive into La Grande, 20 miles away to get their prescriptions. Elgin Health District currently offers medical, dental and limited behavioral health services in rural Elgin, but it currently has no pharmacy. This investment will benefit 1,711 people.
USDA will announce additional awardees for Emergency Rural Health Care Grants in the coming weeks and months. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/or. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.
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