Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $60 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois Rural Communities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $59,193,800 in federal loans and grants for rural communities in Illinois. The funding, awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, will go to ten communities in Illinois to rebuild and modernize essential services.
“These loans and grants will help rural communities throughout Illinois expand economic opportunities and improve both quality of life and public safety,” said Durbin, a member of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition Committee. “Senator Duckworth and I will continue working to ensure that our state's rural communities have access to these critical federal funds, especially as our state continues to recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Federal investments like these will help rural communities across Illinois improve infrastructure, create economic opportunities and support our state as we build back better post-pandemic,” Duckworth said. “I will continue working with Senator Durbin and others to make sure hardworking Illinoisans throughout our state receive the federal support they deserve.”
The following Illinois communities have been awarded funding:
Ashmore Township Road District: $25,000 grant
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase a truck equipped with a dump bed, snow plow and hitch, and a v-box spreader. The District maintains approximately 90 miles of roads and the truck is an essential piece of equipment to maintain roads and ditches within the district lines and be used for various other projects. The truck will replace two existing trucks that are no longer usable by the District.
Village of Goreville: $25,000 grant
This Rural Development investment will be used to assist with the purchase of a patrol vehicle. This will replace a current vehicle that requires costly repairs and is no longer dependable. The village has two full-time and three part-time patrol officers who provide police protection for the residents of Goreville in addition to the visitors at Fern Clyffe State Park.
Village of North City: $19,800 grant
This Rural Development investment will be used to assist with the purchase and installation an early warning storm siren. This project will alleviate a public safety concern that currently exists as the Village does not have an early warning system. It will enable them to provide warning and notification to all residents within the village
Wabash General Hospital District: $13,040,000 loan
This Rural Development investment will be used to assist the hospital district with the construction of a 32,000-square-foot, 2-story medical office building; a 3,000- squarefoot addition to the existing orthopedic and rehabilitation building; and making renovations to the existing hospital's cafeteria, serving, and dining areas as well as to the current administrative meeting rooms to serve the present and future client base adequately. The project will be located on land already owned by the Hospital District. The medical office building will be connected to the existing hospital via an enclosed pedestrian walkway for maximum convenience.
Johnson County: $8,500,000 loan
This Rural Development investment will be used to construct a courthouse for the County of Johnson. The new facility will be for public use and hold county offices. This project ensures the facility will be handicap accessible and provide better public safety to the community and employees within the building.
Salem Fire Protection District: $654,800 loan
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase a side-mount, 2,000-gallon pumper truck. The truck will replace one that is 33 years old and in need of costly repairs. The department serves a 125-square-mile area that includes Stevenson, Haines, Racoon, Tonti and Alma townships.
Village of Moweaqua: $7,200 grant
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase a replacement police vehicle, a Police Interceptor, 4WD Special Service, with a police package. The vehicle will provide better service to the Shelby County village's 1,831 residents.
City of Newton: $25,000 grant
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase police radios with updated technology for the city of Newton's police department. The city will purchase 10 radios which will help officers better communicate and respond to emergencies. These police radios are vital equipment to the police department and ensure adequate public safety for the community which comes to approximately 2,849 residents in the county of Jasper.
YMCA of Ottawa: $12,897,000 loan
This Rural Development investment will be used to construct a YMCA facility in Ottawa, Illinois. The new facility will be handicap accessible and will consist of 56,000 square foot building space with added parking. The facility will include an expanded wellness center, gymnasium, group studios, competition pool, family locker room, pre-school, after school care, senior services expansion, teen center, and a healthy cooking kitchen. The project will also include added services such as warm water therapy and rehabilitation services.
Quincy University Corp.: $24,000,000 loan
This Rural Development investment will be used to provide long-term financing by refinancing existing debt on property located with Quincy University. The refinancing will allow for a more effective debt structure and improved cash flow for the University. This project will benefit the benefit over 1,400 staff and students. Rural Development will be providing an 80 percent loan guarantee for this project.
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