Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will release more than $321,000 to local municipalities and community organizations in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District.  These funds will be made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will be distributed through the USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities program.   
    
          “I am so pleased that rural communities throughout the Fourth District will greatly benefit from funds associated with the economic stimulus package passed by Congress.  These funds will help to revitalize small towns and bring quality facilities to rural areas,” said Skelton.
  
          The local municipalities and communities organizations in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District to receive funding from the Recovery Act include:  

          City of Lebanon, $59,500 grant;
          City of Richland, $31,100 grant;
          City of Urbana, $22,000 grant;
          Stover Rural Fire Dept., $130,000 loan;
          Sweet Springs, Inc., $79,000 loan and grant.
 
          The USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities program provides financial assistance to entities developing community facilities for public use in rural areas.  These facilities include schools, libraries, hospitals, childcare centers, assisted living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, and public buildings.  These funds are available to county and local municipalities, public entities, non-profit organizations, and federally recognized Indian tribes.

          More information about USDA Rural Development funding is available online by visiting rurdev.usda.gov.  More information about the USDA’s Recovery funding can be found at usda.gov/recovery and at recovery.gov. 

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Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) serves as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee . For further information, please contact Rebecca Loving or Whitney Frost at 202-225-2876, or check Congressman Skelton’s website at http://www.house.gov/skelton.