(INDIANAPOLIS) – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Michael Dora today announced funding to repair the current infrastructure of Valley Professional Community Health Center, Inc. The health center is being awarded a USDA loan in the amount of $764,000.
“Modern facilities with solid infrastructure play key roles in the economic vitality of rural communities,” said Dora. “This project will ensure essential services are continued to be provided in a safe location for local residents.”
This Rural Development investment will be used to provide additional financing to enlarge the Valley Professionals Community Health Center in Clinton, Ind. The project is located in a medically underserved area. The size of the existing clinic will be increased by 15,492 square feet which will enable the health center to provide more space for behavioral health group therapy and add 12 additional examination rooms that will support three additional primary care physicians. A full behavioral health care treatment team will be available to offer a full spectrum of behavioral health services to patients, including treatment for anxiety, depression and mood disorders. Providing patients with a holistic medical and behavioral care approach will enhance their overall health and well-being. An additional 8,500 patients will be served, resulting in 21,000 visits. Previous funding includes $2,931,000 in Rural Development loans.
USDA is funding 20 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program investing $68 million to build or improve community facilities and essential services for nearly 715,000 rural residents in 13 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
The projects announced today are in rural communities in Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, and Texas.
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized Native American tribes. Applicants and projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a cornerstone recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety, and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
