Key Points
- Essential community infrastructure is key in ensuring that rural areas enjoy the same basic quality of life and services enjoyed by those in urban areas.
- Community Facilities Programs offer direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. These amenities help increase the competitiveness of rural communities in attracting and retaining businesses that provide employment and services for their residents.
- Public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized American Indian Tribes can use the funds to construct, expand, or improve facilities that provide health care, education, public safety, and public services.
- Projects include: fire and rescue stations, village and town halls, health care clinics, hospitals, adult and child care centers, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, public buildings, schools, libraries, and many other community-based initiatives.
- Financing may also cover the costs for land acquisition, professional fees, and purchase of equipment. These facilities not only improve the basic quality of life but assist in the development and sustainability of rural America.
FIM Opportunities
Food insecurity in rural areas is strongly associated with chronic diseases and poor health outcomes, exacerbating existing health disparities.
Limited infrastructure and smaller population bases in rural areas contribute to the lack of access to nutritious foods, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions, including Food Is Medicine approaches. The Community Facilities Program offers support for critical infrastructure.