USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode along with Mayor Justin Hanson yesterday announced two funding awards for the City of Covington. The city received a total grant amount of $55,000.
“The two funding awards presented today bolster Covington’s commitment to improving the city and its services,” Goode said. “These awards will provide the funds necessary to assist the city in improving the safety of the community.”
As the recipient of two Community Facilities Grants, the first totaling $30,000, the city will use these funds to purchase new fire truck equipment to fully-outfit a recently purchased truck. The equipment includes a thermal imager, a TFT ground monitor, handheld radios, remote control for the ladder nozzles, medical equipment and ladder belts. The second grant totaling $25,000, will be used to reconstruct sidewalk and drive aprons in two locations in order for there to be ADA compliant connections from city parking lots to the city sidewalk network within the public right-of-way.
Others participating in the event include Senator Lamar Alexander Field Representative Chris Connolly, Representative Debra Moody, City of Covington Officials, City of Munford Barbara Dorn, Covington-Tipton County Chamber of Commerce Staff, South Tipton County Chamber of Commerce Director Rosemary Bridges, USDA Assistant to State Director Harriet Cannon, USDA Area Director Arlisa Armstrong, USDA Area Director Joel Howard and Community Programs Specialist Josh Wilkerson.
USDA Rural Development is moving investments to rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty. Since 2009, the agency has assisted more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 230 communities in all 95 counties of Tennessee, investing more than $6.6 billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees, and grants.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Southwest Tennessee contact the Jackson Area Office at 731-668-2091. Visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.