U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Oklahoma State Director Kenneth Corn announced today that USDA has invested more than $1.9 million in public safety sector services in communities across rural Oklahoma in 2023.
During the past fiscal year, Rural Development has funded 22 projects throughout the state totaling $1,926,935 that has been delivered to first responders and correctional services in rural Oklahoma. These projects helped fund items that supported police cars, fire trucks, fire hydrants, ambulances, severe weather warning systems, county jails and more. These funds were obligated under the Rural Development Community and Facilities Loan and Grant program.
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. Rural areas including cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible for this program.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to not only rebuilding our economy, but by also maintaining a level of health and safety, so our residents in rural Oklahoma can proudly call their community home,” Corn said. “As I have traveled across Oklahoma speaking to city managers, police and fire chiefs, and our elected local officials, their message back to me is that the programs the President has delivered under USDA are a vital part of providing essential services to their Oklahoma neighbors. Without these funds many of these communities would be left with multiple coverage gaps that would impact the health, safety, and wellbeing of all too many rural Oklahomans.”
Funds distributed to public safety services in Oklahoma this year included communities in:
- Atoka County
- City of Atoka
- Choctaw County
- Town of Clayton
- Town of Clearview
- Elmore City
- Harmon County
- City of Hugo
- City of Idabel
- City of Miami
- Pushmataha County
- City of Sallisaw
- Town of South Coffeyville
“As a prior city manager, I understand how difficult it can be for rural communities to afford the essential public safety services our residents expect in a community,” Corn said. “Many of these rural leaders would be left with making hard choices on how to support community without the funding President Biden is committed to provide utilizing USDA Rural Development’s programs. I would strongly encourage small communities, county officials and tribal nations to speak with our staff on how Rural Development can be a part of that solution.”
For more information on how to apply call 580-889-2554 ext. 116.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/ok.
