$223,000 to boost healthcare for Cumberland & White Counties

 

January 30, 2009 - CROSSVILLE, Tenn.—U.S. Representative Lincoln Davis and USDA Rural Development Area Director Joe Woody joined Rural Health Clinic of the Cumberlands (RHCC) Executive Director Diana Gustafson Lowe today to announce a federal loan and grant totaling of $223,000 for improvements at RHCC. The announcement was made at the clinic.

 

“Non-profit organizations like the RHCC play such an important role in assuring our rural areas are properly served. Unique partnerships between local organizations and the federal government are crucial in delivering essential services like healthcare and transportation to historically underserved regions of our country. I would like to applaud the commitment of RHCC and Rural Development for working to meet the needs of many,” said Rep. Davis, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture and Rural Development.

 

RHCC is a non-profit organization providing medical care, laboratory services and pharmacy services for uninsured and medically needy people in Cumberland and White Counties. Through volunteer medical professionals and donations from area hospitals and doctors, the clinic is able to meet many healthcare needs for those who otherwise would have to go without needed medical assistance.

 

"Access to good healthcare is critical to the economic health and quality of life in rural communities," said Woody. "Thanks to the support of Congressman Lincoln Davis and our congressional delegation, Rural Development has the financial resources to make sure the people of Cumberland and White Counties have local access to quality health care at the Rural Health Clinic."

 

Funds will be used to purchase the property and renovate clinic facilities. Work will result in additional office space, an X-Ray room and machine, security upgrades and parking lot improvements for make the facility more accessible. Gustafson expects more than 650 patients will receive healthcare at RHCC this year.

 

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.

 

Others participating in the event included Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill, State Rep. Charles Curtis, and Rural Development staff Jerry Jolley and Terrence McGhee.

 

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 Cumberland and White Counties 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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