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Projects Funded Include Hospitals, Schools, and Fire Departments in 11 States
WASHINGTON – FEBRUARY 23, 2010 – – – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of $140.4 million in community facilities projects that are being funded with federal funds provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. USDA has announced $477.6 million in Recovery Act funding for community facility projects to date.
“The Recovery Act funds we are announcing today further demonstrate the Obama Administration’s unyielding efforts to improve the quality of life for rural residents by ensuring that rural communities benefit from quality public facilities such as hospitals, courthouses, and health centers,” Vilsack said.
For example, the Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. in eastern north central Wis. has been selected to receive two loans totaling $7.5 million to improve and expand the accessibility and affordability of dental care services to the underserved population in Barron, Wood and surrounding counties. Recovery Act funds will be used to construct a new dental clinic in Rice Lake, Wis. and an Administrative Office, Pharmacy and Dental Clinic complex in Marshfield, Wis.
“The Recovery Act funds provided today will help support Wisconsin rural communities’ efforts to protect and serve their residents by providing essential public health services,” said Stan Gruszynski, USDA Rural Development Wisconsin State Director. “These projects demonstrate a continued effort on behalf of USDA Rural Development to help create or save jobs and assist communities in providing expanded access to health care, supporting first responder efforts, and financing essential services necessary in helping our rural areas to thrive.”
The new dental clinic in Rice Lake will be staffed with 5 dentists and 5 hygienists with capacity for four 4th year dental students. The goal is for the dental center to meet the oral health needs of the residents of Barron and surrounding counties, regardless of ability to pay. The total cost of this project is $4,400,000. Along with the $2.5 million Community Facility Loan from USDA Rural Development, additional funds of $979,370 is being contributed by the applicant; and a $920,630 ARRA Grant from the Health Research and Service Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care Capital Improvement Program completes the funding.
The 26,000 square foot dental complex in Marshfield will employ 5 dentists and 5 hygienists with 16 operatories, and will also have the capacity for ten 3rd year dental students. It is anticipated that 5,074 patients will be cared for annually at this facility. The dental center will also be able to accommodate the care for severely developmentally disabled individuals. In addition; the pharmacy, administrative offices and staff members will be housed in the new facility. The total project cost is $7,804,000. The applicant is contributing $1,745,370 in addition to the $5 million Community Facility and $1,058,630 ARRA Grant from the Health Research and Service Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care Capital Improvement Program has also been awarded to the project.
In addition to the $140.4 million that USDA Rural Development is providing to fund the 14 projects announced today, recipients will combine that funding with $56 million from other sources. Funding of each loan and grant recipient is contingent upon meeting the conditions of the agreement.
The funding announced today is being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities program, which helps finance essential community facilities for public use in rural areas. These facilities include childcare centers, hospitals, medical clinics, assisted living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings and transportation. Through this program, USDA ensures that such facilities are available to all rural residents. These funds are available to public bodies, non-profit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes. More information about USDA Rural Development can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
More information about USDA’s Recovery Act efforts is available at http://www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal government’s efforts on the Recovery Act is available at http://www.recovery.gov.
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. This past year, USDA Rural Development returned nearly $700 million to rural Wisconsin communities. The funding supports a wide variety of loan, guaranteed loan and grant programs to rural residents in the areas of housing, community facilities, business development, infrastructure, and other development needs. Further information on USDA Rural Development programs is available by visiting USDA’s website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/wi. USDA Rural Development is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
