USDA Rural Development staff visited with Jasonville, Indiana town officials earlier this month during a ceremony celebrating the town’s purchase of a new flex fuel police vehicle.
Utilizing an Economic Impact Initiative (EII) Grant to fund 75 percent of the vehicle purchase price, Assistant Police Chief James E. Gadberry talked about how pleased the department was in working with USDA Rural Development.
He also noted three days after the vehicle arrived, it played an instrumental role during a high speed chase involving a suspected methamphetamine distributor. The vehicle performed perfectly during the pursuit and ultimate apprehension of the individual.
Rural Development Indiana State Director Phil Lehmkuhler said, “Rural Development appreciates the dangerous job done by those who serve as police officers. It is our hope that these funds will help to make their jobs safer and the citizens of Jasonville more secure.”
EII grants are available to rural communities with a “not employed” rate of greater than 19-1/2 percent to help develop essential community facilities. One goal of the EII program is to provide funding for rural first responder agencies.
Since the beginning of the Obama Administration, the Communities Facilities program has provided more than $83 million in direct loans, guaranteed loans and grants that have enabled rural emergency responders to purchase more than 1,360 emergency vehicles, including about 210 ambulances, over 710 police cars and 440 fire trucks.
To find out more about how USDA Community Facilities programs can assist your rural town, click here.
