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Outline of Need:
The financially strapped City of Helena currently pays $26,000 a year toward the retirement of the debt on a fire truck.
How Rural Development Helped:
However, the city recently received a major boost recently from USDA Rural Development in the form of a combined loan/grant of $157,000 to help reduce expenses associated with the lease of the fire truck. The $110,000 loan and $47,000 grant was made possible through the Rural Development Community Facilities Loan and Grant program.
The Results:
The loan/grant proposal was acheived in 14 days due to the hard work and cooperation shown by Helena Mayor Robert Miller, City Attorney Brian Miller, the Helena City Council, former Mayor Jo Ann Smith, who currently serves on the Helena Public Facilities Board, and a cooperative effort between USDA Rural Development and local and state agencies. With the Rural Development loan/grant, the yearly indebtedness of $26,000 can be reduced to about half.
This is just one example of how USDA Rural Development can re-invigorate the economies of rural communities. In addition to Community Facilities assistance, Rural Development also provides financing for housing and infrastructure projects like drinking water systems, sewer systems, and business projects to rural cities and towns.
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