The Franklin Community Volunteer Fire Department, Incorporated in Toast, North Carolina had a problem. The department had outgrown its current facility and was “land locked” with no expansion room.
Through USDA Rural Development and the Recovery Act, Toast officials were able to secure a Community Facilities Direct loan which allowed the fire department to renovate an existing building for larger fire trucks and emergency vehicles. The new location has better highway access as well as land availability for future expansion. The building will also serve as an emergency management shelter should the need arise and be equipped with a helipad. They are in the process of moving into the new building and anticipate an official ribbon cutting later this month. This is just one of the many projects in North Carolina supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Business program funds provided through the Act allowed a shirt manufacturing firm to stay in business, preserving the jobs of over six hundred people in Nash, Johnson and Eastern Wake counties. A Rural Business Enterprise Grant enabled a food cooperative to buy a truck to distribute produce, and the Orange Charter School in Hillsborough was able to secure an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-Business and Industry Loan to enable the school to build an auditorium, gymnasium and two more classrooms. Also, space is provided to allow for future growth.
These and many more projects have been funded in North Carolina through the Recovery Act. To see photos of the projects I mentioned above click here.
USDA provides support for communities, businesses and individuals all across rural America. To find out how USDA can help you or your community, click here.
