Russell Medical Center in Leeds gets grant

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The DFD Russell Medical Center in Leeds will be one of 38 medical faciliies in 15 states to share $65 million to improve critical community facilities from the USDA Rural Development Agency. The money is expected to benefit more than 600,000 rural residents around the country.
USDA Rural Development Maine State Director Timothy P. Hobbs said, “This essential funding to assist DFD Russell Medical Center Inc., is an excellent example of the ways Rural Development can help critical healthcare facilities in Maine. Rural communities rely on vital medical services, and our agency has loans and grants that may be able to provide hospitals and clinics with funding for renovations or life-saving equipment.”
DFD Russell Medical Center was selected to receive a Community Facilities Loan in the amount of $371,000. The investment will be used to renovate the medical clinic. A psychiatric nurse practitioner has been added to the practice and additional exam rooms and support spaces are required to accommodate these services. The project will involve the construction of new offices, a conference/training room, and a restroom will be made ADA compliant. Completing these renovations will enable the new psychiatric exam rooms and support spaces to be located on the upper level of the facility, near other patient access spaces.
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include, municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less. These investments can be used for purposes such as building or upgrading healthcare facilities, schools, libraries, and public safety facilities.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/me.
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