Paul Lagemann, Office of US Senator Daniel Coats; Julie Henney, USDA RD; Laura Hamann, USDA RD; Phil Lehmkuhler, USDA RD Indiana State Director; Chad Miner, Council President; Tonya Conley, Clerk-Treasurer; Craig Hollopeter, Town Marshall.

SILVER LAKE — United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development has approved a $14,400 Community Facility Grant to the Town of Silver Lake. The funds will be used to purchase a new police car.

USDA 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 make their jobs safer and the citizens of Silver Lake more secure.” 

This one of several recently funded CF projects in Indiana by USDA Rural Development.  “These grants and loans are in keeping with the mission of USDA Rural Development which is to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure,” said Lehmkuhler.  “USDA Rural Development’s Community Programs seek to improve the quality of life in rural America through a variety of loan and grant programs for water and waste disposal projects, essential community facilities, and electric utilities and communications.”

Community Facility Loans and Guaranteed Loans may be made to develop essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Funds are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, and special-purpose districts, as well as to non-profit corporations and tribal governments. The maximum term for all loans is 40 years or the useful life of the facility. Loan funds may be used to construct, enlarge, or improve community facilities for health care, public safety, and public services. These facilities include, but are not limited to, libraries, hospitals, elderly care facilities, child care centers, fire and rescue, vocational and medical centers, schools and public transportation.

Community Facilities Grant Program assists rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Grants may be made for most of the same purposes as direct and guaranteed loans. Grants are authorized on a graduated scale.