Pennsylvania Ag Connection - USDA Announces Investments in Community Facilities

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USDA Announces Investments in Community Facilities
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 08/23/2019

Rural Housing Service Administrator Bruce Lammers announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $52 million in 45 community facilities projects that will benefit nearly 200,000 rural residents in 16 states. Rural Development State Director Curt Coccodrilli announced that Pennsylvania will invest over $580,000 in loans and grants to five projects.

"USDA Rural Development is committed to partnering with rural comThursmunities to build the facilities that provide essential services to those who depend on them," Coccodrilli said. "Our rural communities thrive when modern and accessible education, health care, public safety and municipal services are available. This provides a foundation for growth and prosperity."

USDA is making the investments and has additional funding available through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. Interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office for application and eligibility details.

The 45 projects that USDA announced today are in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. Here are some examples in Pennsylvania:

- Homer City Borough will use a loan of $35,400 and a grant of $19,200 to purchase a Ford Utility Police Interceptor AWD equipped with first responder equipment. The Borough needs this new vehicle to add to their K9 unit and eventually replace their current vehicle that has high mileage.

- Thompson Hose Company will receive a $94,300 loan and $50,000 grant to purchase a new four-wheel drive ambulance. The applicant currently owns an old ambulance and would like to replace it due to the continued mechanical problems. The company was worried the ambulance could break down in an emergency.

- Tremont Borough will use a loan of $35,600 and a grant of $43,500 to purchase a police interceptor and a dump truck. The current vehicles are older and have high mileage and will not pass inspection, therefore the borough needs new vehicles. The dump truck will provide street maintenance and the police interceptor will help expand their patrol unit. This project will benefit the residents of the borough and the township of Frailey.

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.

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