Link: http://www.usda.gov/2006/09/0343.xml Kristin Scuderi (202) 720-4623 Wayne Maloney (202) 690-0498 JOHANNS ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $2.6 MILLION IN COMMUNITY FACILITIES GRANTS WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2006−Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the award of 82 grants totaling $2,689,775 to organizations in 23 states to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. The organizations will use the funds to construct, enlarge or improve community facilities for health care, public safety, and community and public services. "This grant program is designed to help small, rural communities that might not otherwise have the resources to develop facilities - like schools and health clinics - that are critical to their future," said Johanns. "USDA is proud to play a role in putting into action the President's commitment to rural America." The grants were awarded under the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Program, which provides grants to develop of essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Grants are authorized on a graduated scale. Applicants located in small communities with low populations and low incomes receive a higher percentage of grants. Among the grant recipients announced today was the Orange County, Texas, Emergency Service District #1, which will receive a $100,000 grant to help build a new fire station. The former station was destroyed in September 2005 by Hurricane Rita. Hot Springs County, Wyo. will receive $14,800 to buy a first responder vehicle for the Sheriff's Department to improve officers' ability to react to local emergencies. The United Evangelical Covenant Church in Ishpeming, Mich. will receive a $50,000 grant to help build an additional classroom for its "Let's Get Growing" preschool program. The program provides affordable early education and summer camp activities for children in Ishpeming. The Town of Blanca, Colo., population 391, will receive $25,000 to replace the Volunteer Fire Department's old fire truck with a larger one. Blanca is in a rural, desert area with limited water resources. The new, larger-capacity truck will enhance responders' ability to effectively fight fires. A complete list of the grant recipients is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/newsroom/news.htm. USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural communities. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development has invested over $72 billion since the beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Over 1.2 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov. # USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to mailto:webservices@xxxxxxxx?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE and reference your email address.
