U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Missouri State Director Jeff Case today announced the Clarkton Municipal Improvement Corporation was awarded a $6,000 Community Facilities loan and a $9,700 Community Facilities grant. This investment will be used to purchase a new maintenance truck for the city of Clarkton. The vehicle will be used by the city maintenance department, allowing for repairs and improvements in a cost effective and timely manner.
“I commend Clarkton officials for purchasing a new vehicle to keep the city well maintained for its citizens,” said Case. “USDA is committed to partnering with rural communities, just like Clarkton, to ensure rural Missourians have opportunities, facilities, and services available that allow their economies to grow and prosper.”
Today’s announcement came as part of a larger statement from USDA Rural Housing Service Administrator Bruce Lammers in which he announced USDA is investing $52 million in 45 community facilities projects that will benefit nearly 200,000 rural residents in 16 states.
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to partnering with rural communities to build the facilities that provide state-of-the-art services to those who depend on them,” Lammers said. “Rural areas thrive when modern and accessible education, health care, public safety and municipal services are available. This provides a foundation for growth and prosperity.”
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for funding under USDA’s Community Facilities program. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
USDA will make additional funding announcements in coming weeks. Congress appropriated $2.8 billion for Community Facilities direct loans and grants in fiscal year 2019.
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).
Contact USDA Rural Development
Information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting www.rd.usda.gov/mo or by calling (573) 876-0976.
USDA Rural Development has 25 offices across the state to serve the 2.2 million residents living in rural Missouri. Office locations include a State Office in Columbia, along with local offices in Butler, Charleston, Chillicothe, Clinton, Dexter, Eldon, Farmington, Higginsville, Houston, Kennett, Kirksville, Maryville, Mexico, Moberly, Neosho, New London, Poplar Bluff, Richmond, Rolla, Sedalia, Springfield, St. Joseph, Troy, and West Plains.