ARRA Grants Available for Rural Hospital Facilities

Authorized by the American Recovery and Investment Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service will award $1.19 billion in loans and grants to build or improve hospitals and other essential facilities in low-income rural communities.  Below is more information about the grants:

1. Deadline for funding is on a rolling basis until September 30, 2010.
2. Matching funds are not required.
3. Affected Programs include: community facilities, single family housing, business & industry loans, rural business enterprise grants, water and waste loans, broadband loans and grants.
4. Preference is given to ‘quick-start’ activities where at least 50% of funds are initiated in 120 days.
5. Rural Hospitals fall under the “Community Facilities (CF) Programs”

• The CF Direct Loan and Grant Programs are designed to finance and facilitate the development of essential community facilities servicing rural areas.  These facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals; medical clinics; elderly care facilities; fire and rescue stations … and educational facilities.  Funds under this Notice can be used to construct, enlarge or improve community facilities for health, public safety, and education.  This may include the purchase of equipment of furnishings required for a facility’s operation. 
• Funding is available as follows:
  CF Direct Loan Funds - $1,136,188,811
  Less National Office Reserve - $568,094,811
  Allocation to States - $568,094,000
  CF Grant Funds - $61,110,000
  Less Nat’l Office Reserve - $30,553,000
  Allocation to States - $30,557,000

 

Applications are accepted in the State Offices and states must submit to the National Office by local close of business on last business day of each month.

Further information can be found at: http://www.grants.gov or to apply, contact the USDA rural development office in the state where the project is located.

Terry Hill, Executive Director of the National Rural Health Resource Center, has recently been in communication with the USDA to discuss rural needs in regards to this grant program.  If you have questions about this opportunity, please feel free to contact Terry at 218-727-9390 ext 232.