WASHINGTON- Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development has awarded three loans totaling $760,370 and seven grants totaling $458,134 to Iowa through the Community Facility Loan and Grant program, the Economic Impact Initiative Grant program and the Solid Waste Management Grant program.
"These funds will help provide necessary services for these rural Iowa communities," Grassley said.
The Office of Rural Development will distribute the funds as shown below.
· Union County Greater Community Hospital in Creston will receive $56,000 grant through the Community Facility Grant program to help purchase an ambulance to serve Union County residents.
· Wesley Retirement Services in Johnston will receive a $350,000 loan through the Community Facility Direct Loan program to help replace a boiler and water heating systems at the Wesley Heritage House 61 unit assisted living apartment facility located in Atlantic. The loan will be for 20 years at 4.375 percent interest.
· Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua will receive a $100,000 grant through the Community Facility Grant program to help construct a new two level, 7,424 square foot childcare facility.
· Ottumwa-Wapello County Solid Waste Commission in Ottumwa will receive $98,000 grant through the Solid Waste Management Grant program to help develop Integrated Solid Waste Management Education, Investigation of Recycling Demonstrations Projects and an On-Site Landfill Operations Training program.
· Pocahontas County will receive $52,300 grant through the Community Facility Grant program to help replace an old inefficient heating and cooling system for the Pocahontas County Courthouse with a new, more efficient geothermal system.
· Sunshine Services in Spencer will receive a $160,370 loan and a $34,030 grant through the Community Facility Loan and Grant program as well as a $65,970 grant through the Economic Impact Initiative Grant program to help purchase and renovate an existing building to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness of the facility which serves persons with disabilities. The loan will be for 40 years at 4.375 percent interest.
· Kaleidoscope Kids Childcare Center in West Union will receive a $250,000 loan and a $51,834 grant through the Community Facility Loan and Grant program to help construct a new 7,500 square foot childcare facility to accommodate up to 100 children. The loan will be for 40 years at 4.375 percent interest.
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.
The Economic Impact Initiative Grant program provides grants to eligible communities with populations under 20,000 to assist them with projects that will provide an economic stimulus to their community
The Solid Waste Management Grant program provides grants to help reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources as well as improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas of up to 10,000 in population.