Franken Announces Stimulus Money To Help Rural Minnesota

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced today that three rural Minnesota communities will benefit from loans and grants provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The projects that have been awarded funding will help their communities build and upgrade essential infrastructure.

"Minnesota's rural communities have suffered disproportionately during this economic downturn," said Sen. Franken. "The projects that these loans and grants are funding will provide their communities with much needed infrastructure. This is yet another example of how stimulus money is working to help those Minnesotans that need it most."

The Recovery Act projects being announced today are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development's Community Facilities Program and will be matched with $68.5 million from other sources. The program aims to develop essential community facilities for public use in rural areas including schools, libraries, childcare, hospitals, medical clinics, assisted living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings, and transportation. Funding of each loan and grant is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the agreement.

The following Minnesota projects received funding:

· First Care Medical Services, headquartered in Fosston: $6,000,000 loan. The funding will be used to expand an existing facility to link their hospital and clinic.

· Pine City: $585,000 loan. The funding will be used for road improvement due to flooding.

· Northome Library: $15,000 grant. The funding will be used to purchase library equipment and furnace.

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