(Radio Iowa) – Sixteen rural Iowa projects are getting funds from the U-S-D-A’s Rural Development Program. Rural Development State Director Theresa Greenfield says the projects vary from linking up medical professionals, to improving water systems. “For a long time, for too long, in my opinion, these communities have felt the loss of the consolidation of farming, the loss of families lost a lot of businesses, we all know grocery stores have closed that kind of thing,” she says “And, and some of that comes from, you know, the get big or get out kind of economy. ”

There’s more than one million dollars ( $1,084,171) going into the projects. “The mission of U-S-D-A Rural Development is to be there to support our rural communities, particularly those that are 20-thousand in population or under. And many of these are even smaller yet, 500 or less,” Greenfield says.

A 50-thousand dollar grant is going to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital to help rural residents in the county.  “All that equipment is going to go to the little town of Villisca, their medical clinic there. And having grown up in that little town of 500, my parents still have to drive almost 30 miles to get health care,” she says, “I know how important it is to make those investments.”

Other grants help cities with facilities and equipment, as Gilbertville is receiving 500-thousand dollars to help build an emergency services building, and Griswold and Lennox are getting grants to help purchase equipment for their fire departments. “Some of these communities may have already received these funds, and some might be still working through and finishing up the paperwork to get these funds,” Greenfield says. “But all 16 of these grants are a great example of communities reaching out to U-S-D-A, telling us what they need to be prosperous, what they need to meet the needs of the community and us working with them to get the support them with those kinds of financial resources.”

The funding comes from various sources, include the U-S-D-A’s Rural Development Program’s budget, the American Rescue plan, and the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Here’s more info on the grants:
-Knierim received a $22,000 grant to help create a water facility plan developed by engineers. This project will assist with the costs of planning for construction and will promote water quality for residents of this rural Calhoun County community.
-Murray received a $22,500 grant to help complete a wastewater system plan. The project will supply a plan created by engineers with alternatives and recommendations to address rehabilitation of the city’s wastewater infrastructure.
–Pisgah received a $22,000 grant to create a water facility plan developed by engineers. This project will address water system conditions and performance and will include alternatives and recommendations to meet the rehabilitation needs of the entire water system.
-Gilbertville received a $500,000 grant to help build an emergency services building to provide essential public services. Anamosa received a $21,000 grant to help purchase fingerprinting scanners, tables, chairs, cabinets, and animal kennels to facilitate law enforcement operations.
–Griswold received a $7,100 grant to help purchase communications equipment for the city’s fire department.
-Lenox received a $43,000 grant to help purchase equipment for the fire department.
-Volga Community in Clayton County received a $44,600 grant to help purchase a utility truck for city road maintenance and snow removal operations.
-Clarke County Public Hospital received a $43,000 grant to help purchase an ambulance. This project will provide a more reliable and comfortable unit with a power lift and ultraviolet disinfection.
–Blockton received a $50,000 grant to help purchase a tanker truck for the city’s volunteer fire department to increase water capacity in fire-fighting operations.
–Montgomery County Memorial Hospital received a $50,000 grant to help purchase medical imaging equipment for Villisca Medical Clinic. This project will provide an X-ray machine to make more accurate diagnosis and to save patient travel time to distant hospitals.
–Corning received a $49,000 grant to help remodel city hall. This project will renovate and update the shingles, concrete, and lighting on the building.
–Anita received a $50,000 grant to help purchase an ambulance. Albia received a $24,100 grant to help purchase a utility vehicle.
-Varina received a $13,500 grant to help purchase 12 sets of essential equipment for the fire department.