CARSON CITY, Nev., Oct. 23, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden and USDA Rural Development Nevada State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad recently announced that a funding award to Esmeralda County to repair damages done in 2023 by Hurricane Hilary to Goldfield’s Silver Peak Road will be moving forward in the awards process.
Goldfield is included in USDA’s Rural Partners Network Southern Nevada Community Network, an all-of-government effort with boots-on-the-ground staff to identify federal funding solutions to community needs.
This award is part of a national announcement that USDA has selected 15 projects in ten states and Puerto Rico to move forward in the awards process to repair or replace essential community facilities that were damaged by disasters in calendar years 2022 or 2023.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA stand ready to deploy every resource we have available to help families and individuals rebuild their lives and their communities in the aftermath of disasters,” Under Secretary Gooden said. “The selections I’m announcing today will help America’s rural small towns and remote communities become more resilient in the face of increasingly severe weather, wildfires and other risks.”
“USDA is committed to ensuring that rural communities have access to the resources they need to thrive,” said State Director Ingvoldstad. “When disasters strike, USDA is equally committed to providing rural Nevadans with the resources they need to rebuild their communities. We’re proud to support Goldfield in its recovery from Hurricane Hilary. The Biden-Harris Administration shares this dedication, having identified Goldfield as both an RPN and CORE community, focused on addressing community needs. We look forward to working together to ensure that folks have safe, affordable, and accessible infrastructure that will stand strong for decades to come.”
USDA’s selections through the Community Facilities Disaster Grants Program will help public bodies, Federally recognized Tribes and community-based nonprofits rebuild in the aftermath of 2022 and 2023 disasters.
Congress updated the funding and authority for the Disaster Grants Program in March 2024. Since that time, USDA Rural Development has moved expeditiously to administer the funding to the communities and people who need it most.
Today’s selections total up to $36 million under the Community Facilities Disaster Grants Program. Applicants plan to use the funding to repair or replace damaged essential community facilities, replace damaged equipment or vehicles, and purchase new equipment to make much-needed repairs.
Background
The Community Facilities Program received supplemental disaster funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
Additional resources to support rural communities seeking disaster assistance are available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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