Gordon announces $1.2 million for emergency services in Smith County

 

March 23, 2009 - CARTHAGE, Tenn.—U.S. Representative Bart Gordon and USDA Rural Development Area Director Joe Woody today joined Smith County Mayor Michael Nesbitt and Smith County Fire Chief Jackie Carver to announce federal funding totaling $1,250,000 to purchase nine new fire trucks and related emergency equipment to serve people and businesses in the nine fire service areas outside the incorporated towns in Smith County. The announcement was made at the County Mayor's Office on Turner High Circle in Carthage.

 

"When there is an emergency, the Smith County firefighters should be properly prepared and equipped to respond," said Representative Gordon. "Each and every day, countless lives are saved by their courageous efforts. This funding will allow Smith County to purchase new fire trucks, which will allow the firefighters to do an even better job than they are already doing."

 

The Rural Development low-interest loan of $1.2 million and $107,500 from the county will fund the purchase of nine new fire trucks. The new vehicles will reduce the department's maintenance and repair costs and should eliminate down time caused by problems with older trucks currently in service. The new trucks will each have the capacity to carry 1,000 gallon water and a 1250 gallon-per-minute high pressure pump. A new truck will be stationed in each of the county's fire stations.

 

"Modern, reliable emergency vehicles are vital to the success of our first responders' mission to save lives and property," said Woody. "Thanks to support from Congressman Gordon, Rural Development has the financial resources that Chief Carver and his crew need to respond to emergencies with the safest, most reliable equipment possible."

 

Rural Development’s community facilities program uses direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to provide rural areas with the financial resources to construct or improve essential services like healthcare, education, civic facilities, and first responder protection. The loan-guarantee program encourages private lenders to expand their investment of capital in rural communities. Community facilities programs target rural areas with a population less than 20,000.

 

"Congressman Gordon and Rural Development are helping us meet the needs of people across the county by making it possible to make this purchase of better vehicles and equipment," said Nesbitt.

 

Others participating in the event included Sen. Bob Corker's representative Paul Goode, County Commissioner Earl North and RD Area Office Staff Jerry Jolley and Alice Wills.

 

Committed to the future of rural communities in Tennessee, USDA Rural Development invests financial and technical assistance through housing, community and business development programs.  In Fiscal Year 2008 Rural Development assisted more than 678,000 Tennessee families and businesses with more than $435 million in financial assistance through loans, loan guarantees and grants.

 

For more information on Rural Development programs available in Smith County contact the Area Office in Cookeville at 931-528-6539 ext 2, toll free at (800) 342-3149 ext. 1493, or online at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.

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