Six area communities will receive grants awarded from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is investing $222 million to build and improve critical community facilities.USDA area awards include:
• The City of Cotter awarded $24,000 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus cylinders and turn-out gear for its fire department. The city says this investment will improve firefighter safety and the efficacy of its response to fire emergencies.
• The City of Harrison will receive $37,000 to purchase a street department sweeper.
• The City of Marshall will receive $3,000 to purchase a commercial mower for the street department.
• Mount Pleasant will receive funding through two grants. The first in the amount of $38,000 will allow the purchase of a street department tractor and equipment. The second grant of $12,000 will allow for the purchase of a fire department utility vehicle and equipment.
• The Jasper School District will receive $9,000 to purchase a walk-in cooler to support the provision of meals for rural students.
• Fulton County will receive $8,000 to provide grant funding for the county to purchase two roof top compressors for the HVAC, as only four of the six compressors are working at the Fulton County Hospital.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the community infrastructure funding will benefit nearly 2.5 million people in rural communities. The funding also includes $132 million to support healthcare, food security and emergency response services for more than 850,000 rural residents in 37 states.
The USDA is investing in 536 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Projects are localized to rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
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