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Contact:Bob Ellison
USDA Office of Communications
(202) 720-4623
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USDA Funds Improvements In Rural Communities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is helping to finance multi-use community centers in rural communities across the nation.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v54sutPe2M
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FEATURE – USDA FUNDS IMPROVEMENTS IN RURAL COMMUNITY
INTRO: The U-S Department of Agriculture is helping to finance multi-use community centers in rural communities across the nation. The USDA’s Bob Ellison has more on such an effort in southern Virginia. (1:33)
HILLSVILLE IS A SMALL TOWN IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA. IT HAS A SMALL TOWN’S CHARM, BUT IT LACKS THE AMENITIES OF WEALTHIER SUBURBS AND CITIES. SO THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S RURAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IS HELPING HILLSVILLE THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAM WITH LOW-INTEREST FINANCING AND GRANTS.
Cheryl Cook, Deputy Undersecretary USDA Rural Development: We were able to help the community construct a center where truly people of all ages were coming as we were there making use of the facility, whether it was the swimming pool, the therapeutic pools, the weightlifting equipment, the aerobic equipment. There were people there who had no other opportunity for the kind of workout, the kind of physical experience.
AND OLIVER MCBRIDE WHO HEADS A LOCAL ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORT SAYS THE COMMUNITY CENTER OFFERS AREA RESIDENTS ADULT EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING.
Oliver McBride, Exec. Dir., Crossroads Institute: This has become a place where education has been made accessible to many of our residents who otherwise may not have continued their education beyond high school and had the opportunity to do some retraining once they were impacted by the loss of their jobs.
BUT BEYOND EXERCISE AND JOB TRAINING, THE COMMUNITY CENTER OFFERS A CHANCE TO SOCIALIZE FOR PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
Cook: There are also classes and programs and opportunities for social interaction that a lot of people in rural America don’t get especially our seniors, many of whom are living alone or home-bound.
THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT AND HELPS FINANCE COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN RURAL AREAS.FOR THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE I’M BOB ELLISON.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
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