USDA grant funds awarded to seven area communities
Seven federal grants have been awarded which will allow local governments and law enforcement to better serve their communities across Southern Illinois.
The grants were announced May 28 by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA.
USDA Rural Development works to forge partnerships with rural communities by funding projects that bring housing, community facilities, business guarantees, utilities and other services to rural America.
Among the grant recipients were communities in Alexander and Pulaski counties. Details about the grants follow:
Alexander County, Village of McClure
Grant Amount: $18,600
This investment will enable the village to purchase a storm siren to warn village residents of inclement weather and other emergencies.
The siren will be a model 14V-B AC/DC Omni Directional warning siren that will provide an essential community public safety service to the village that currently does not have a storm siren.
Pulaski County, Mound City
Grant Amount: $30,000
This investment will be used to purchase a tractor with bucket and mower attachments.
The new equipment will provide the necessary equipment to service the levee system in the city’s jurisdiction.
This will enhance public safety and keep the levees certified for the community. This project will serve 588 residents located in Pulaski County.
Pulaski County, Village of Olmsted
Grant Amount: $25,000
This investment will be used to purchase a utility maintenance truck for the village of Olmsted.
This maintenance truck is vital to the village as it helps them complete projects annually such as hauling rock, roadway maintenance, cleaning debris in town, salt spreading during winter months, boat access maintenance and various other village projects. The project will serve 333 people in Olmsted.
Pulaski County
Grant Amount: $25,000
This investment will be used to purchase a 2011 International tandem axle dump truck to be utilized for various county projects.
The county has over 230 miles of roadways and right of ways that are maintained utilizing six dump trucks that have an average age of 15 years.
The truck will be utilized for snow plowing, spreading rock, hauling away materials, improve ditches and drains, in addition to other tasks.
This project will provide an essential community service and public safety component to the 6,100 residents in the county and county employees.
Grants also were awarded to the City of Sesser, the Village of Baldwin and Franklin County.