WASHINGTON, D.C.—Sen. Tom Harkin, D-IA, announced that a total of $6,383,000 will be coming to Iowa for various community development projects.
The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program.
Harkin is a senior member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds rural development initiatives and as the then-Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, included provisions in the 2002 and 2008 farm bills that help to provide funding for this program.
“From renovations on Main Street to improvements at local hospitals, targeted investments like these make a difference in our small towns, and help to ensure a secure a future for rural America,” Harkin said. “Today’s funding will help these rural communities harness the potential to modernize, grow, and create new jobs and opportunities.”
The REDLG program provides funding to rural projects through local utility organizations. Under the REDLoan program, USDA provides grants and zero interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas.
Details of the funding are as follows:
Access Energy Cooperative — $325,000 loan to help Fairfield Organics, LCC buy equipment.
Central Iowa Power Cooperative — $300,000 grant to help the Clarke County Hospital renovate and expand its campus.
Clarke Electric Cooperative, Inc.— $2,000,000 loan to help the Clarke County Public Hospital renovate and expand its campus in Osceola.
Independence Light and Power — $2,000,000 loan to help the Wapsie Valley Creamery buy cheese making equipment and expand its milk processing facility.
Midland Power Cooperative — $1,000,000 loan to help the Precision Tank and Equipment Co. build a manufacturing facility in Humboldt.
Orange City Municipal Electric Utility — $300,000 grant to help the Orange City Development Corp. rehabilitate a building that will be used by a new retail business downtown.
Spencer Municipal Utilities — $300,000 grant to help the city of Spencer buy equipment for an emergency communications center.
Woodbury County Rural Electric Cooperative — $158,000 grant to build a city hall and community center for the city of Bronson.