USDA GRANTS $56,000 FOR CHILD CARE FACILITY
Kootasca Community Action Council to Build Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
WASHINGTON, DC, September 29 -- The United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development mission area will provide a $56,000 Community Facilities grant to the Kootasca Community Action Council for the construction of a child care center in Grand Rapids, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Jill Long Thompson announced today in Washington. USDA Rural Development administers a number of programs designed to strengthen rural economies and expand infrastructure in rural areas.
"USDA and the Clinton-Gore Administration are committed to providing parents of children who live in rural communities with the same access to quality day care as those who live in urban areas," Under Secretary for Rural Development Jill Long Thompson said. "Making sure that our children have access to and receive quality care early in life is an investment in the future."
The new facility will be located in the Itasca Nursing Home and will be available to employees of the Nursing Home and to the public. "USDA's Community Facilities program is helping rural municipalities provide basic services to areas which have not been afforded such services in the past," Rural Development MN State Director Gary DeCramer said. "This loan will help provide peace of mind to parents and allow children to spend their time in a positive, productive environment."
Through its Community Facilities Program, USDA Rural Development's Rural Housing Service is striving to ensure that facilities - such as health care clinics, police and fire stations, schools and child care centers - are readily available to all rural Americans. The commitment of USDA to this effort is at the core of its mission and its promise to help build stronger, more vibrant rural communities across the nation.
Contact:
Clark Ray (202) 720-5579
Gary DeCramer, Rural Development Minn. State Director
(612) 602-7780