$27 Million USDA Rural Development Loan Assisted with Construction
WAVERLY, Iowa – September 24, 2021 – A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today in the northeastern Iowa community of Waverly to highlight completion of a new emergency room department serving residents throughout Bremer, Butler and Chickasaw Counties. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development provided a $27.063 million loan to support the construction of the new emergency department, as well as a full-time walk-in clinic, allowing more space for medical specialists and practitioners and enabling staff to better supervise patient care.
“Enhancing the delivery of healthcare in Waverly will improve the quality of life for many rural Iowans and contribute to the stability of the communities in which they reside,” said Darin Leach, USDA Rural Development Acting State Director in Iowa. “USDA Rural Development is a big part of a helping communities make positive changes that promote the promise of rural prosperity.”
Waverly Health Center (WHC) is owned by the City of Waverly. Recent census data indicates the City of Waverly has grown by 4.40 percent during the last 10 years and now has more than 10,300 residents.
The three-phased improvement project also includes a 40,000 square foot renovation to the interior of the hospital. The renovations will reconfigure a majority of the original 1964 building and will provide additional clinic space and outpatient services departments. At the conclusion of the project, many of the hospital's outpatient services and clinics will be on the main level with easy access for wayfinding and parking.
WHC opened in the 1960s and facility additions were made in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2005. This current expansion and renovation will add 70,000 square-feet to the campus. The hospital will remain a 25-bed critical access facility.
This funding was made available through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. Eligible applicants include rural cities, towns and villages including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents. Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and /or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses.
“USDA is committed to assisting rural communities with improved healthcare infrastructure,” Leach added. “By investing in these vital facilities, USDA is fostering new opportunities for those living in rural America to thrive.”
Contact USDA Rural Development
Residents, businesses and communities in Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties are served by the USDA Rural Development office in Waverly. For more information please call (319) 352-1715 Ext. 4 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia.
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a State Office in Des Moines, along with Area Offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, 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. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate, smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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