Vilsack Highlights Facilities That Will Benefit Rural Communities

The USDA recently announced it was investing nearly $300 million to improve rural community facilities and essential services to in 16 states and Peurto Rico. More than half the funding is for rural  healthcare and emergency response services. 

"The virus has probably hit all of us in one form or another but it has hit rural America in a very specific and hard way," said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Rural residents are more vulnerable to serious infection and death.

"The Rural Policy Research Institute's report suggested that the infection rate was roughly 13%, between 13/14% higher  in rural areas than in urban centers."

The 41 projects are part of Rural Development's community facilities program which funds a variety of essential community services in rural areas with population of 20,000 people or less.

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