United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development has approved a $5,500 Community Facility Grant to the City of Bluffton. Rural Development funds will be used to purchase police in-car audio and video recording systems.
Community Facility Loans and Guaranteed Loans may be made to develop essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Funds are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, and special-purpose districts, as well as to non-profit corporations and tribal governments. The maximum term for all loans is 40 years or the useful life of the facility. Loan funds may be used to construct, enlarge, or improve community facilities for health care, public safety, and public services. These facilities include, but are not limited to, libraries, hospitals, elderly care facilities, child care centers, fire and rescue, vocational and medical centers, schools, and public transportation.
Community Facilities Grant Program assists rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Grants may be made for most of the same purposes as direct and guaranteed loans. Grants are authorized on a graduated scale.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.