WASHINGTON- Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development has awarded grants totaling $945,000 to Iowa through the Community Facility Grant Program.
“Natural disasters devastated Iowa this year and these funds will help continue the rebuilding process,” Grassley said. “Iowa will never be the same and we can never get back those that were lost, but Iowans are resilient and we will work hard to get through these tough times that will ultimately only make us stronger as we move forward and try to regain normalcy in our everyday lives.”
The Community Facility Loan Program provides grants to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development has awarded funds to facilitate various projects, as described below.
v Corning will receive a $525,000 grant to help construct a new fire station. The new building will fulfill the space needs for fire and emergency equipment storage and training.
v The Dike - New Hartford Community School District will receive a $150,000 grant to help reconstruct the elementary school in New Hartford that was severely damaged by flooding. The funding will help provide new flooring throughout the school, including a new gym floor, new cabinets and counter tops and other various improvements.
v The Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Little Sioux will receive a $270,000 grant to help construct facilities throughout the camp which will also serve as fortified storm shelters. The Little Sioux Scout Ranch was devastated by a tornado on June 11, 2008 in which four young scouts were killed. The tornado also destroyed the ranger’s home, a cabin, a shower house and more than 200 acres of trees.