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Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Announced Support for Projects to Improve Quality of Life in Rural America

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Liza C. Moore
Foster Swift Agricultural Law Update
May 2011

On April 21, 2011, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced support for projects aimed at improving rural quality of life. The 135 projects in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Western Pacific are being financed through $234 million in USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program loans and grants. "USDA’s support for these projects reflects our commitment to ensuring that rural communities can create jobs, attract businesses and provide necessary services to their residents," Vilsack said. "USDA Rural Development continues to work with rural communities to help them develop quality health care services, modern library facilities and school buildings, and reliable first responder equipment and services to ensure that people who live in rural areas have access to critical infrastructure." According to a USDA news release, projects in Michigan will be as follows:

  • City of Bessemer - $14,000 direct loan to replace the roof on the fire hall;
  • City of Plainwell - $1,350,000 direct loan to build a public service building for fire & police departments;
  • Brevort Township - $300,000 direct loan to replace the Community Center & Library;
  • Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital - $19,000,000 direct loan to replace the hospital;
  • Creative Beginnings Child Development - $500,000 direct loan to purchase a day care building;
  • Chippewa County War Memorial Hospital - $3,872,000 direct loan and $18,077,000; guaranteed loan to construct a replacement hospital and renovate the emergency department;
  • City of Harrison - $86,000 direct loan and $29,000 grant to purchase a fire truck.

Funding for these projects is contingent upon the recipients’ satisfaction of the terms of the loan or grant agreement. Click here for more information about USDA Rural Development. (We have identified that the following link is no longer active, and it has been removed)