WASHINGTON- Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development has awarded a loan of $76,500 and four grants totaling $163,075 to Iowa through the Community Facility Guaranteed Loan and Grant Program.
"This funding will help purchase necessary safety equipment for these rural communities in case of an emergency and help our children get a good head start with early education programs," Grassley said.
The Office of Rural Development will distribute the funds as shown below.
· Anita will receive a $10,900 grant to help purchase and install a new emergency warning siren system which will consist of two sirens to provide improved emergency notification. Cass County was declared a Presidential Disaster area for both individual and community assistance.
· Decatur City will receive a $35,175 grant to help purchase and install an emergency generator at the community center. Decatur County was declared a Presidential Disaster area for both individual and community assistance.
· Southwest Iowa Family Services in Atlantic will receive a $76,500 loan and a $99,500 grant to help construct a new early childhood development center, which will serve approximately 60 children between the ages of 6 weeks to 5 years old. Before and after school and summer-care child care programs will also be available. The loan is for 40 years at 4.375 percent interest.
· Waterville will receive a $17,500 grant to help purchase equipment for the early education program at the Waterville school.
The Community Facilities Loan Program funds may be used to construct, enlarge, or improve community facilities for health care, public safety, and public services. This can include costs to acquire land needed for a facility, pay necessary professional fees, and purchase equipment required for its operation in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population.
The Community Facility Grant program provides grants to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population.