Rural Development – Minnesota Office: Trump Administration Invests $21,500 for Fire Safety in Littlefork, Minn.

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development - Minnesota office issued the following news release on Oct. 5:

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Minnesota Brad Finstad today announced that USDA is investing $21,500 for essential fire safety equipment in the city of Littlefork.

"Modern equipment is essential to the success of any operation, especially when it helps keep our fire emergency workers safe," Finstad said. "Whether it's replacing old turnout gear or purchasing a new vehicle, all these things contribute to the economic prosperity of rural America. Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is dedicated to assisting rural communities like Littlefork with their long-term commitments to economic prosperity, because when rural America prospers, all of America prospers."

The city of Littlefork will use a $21,500 Community Facilities Grant to purchase eight sets of new turnout gear (fire protective coats and pants) and corresponding radios for the 18 active firefighters at the Littlefork Fire Department. The department's existing gear is worn out and expired, putting firefighters at risk when responding to an emergency. The department serves 440 square miles, including most of Koochiching County. They have mutual aid agreements will other area county Departments, so they sometimes respond to emergencies at longer distances, making working radio equipment imperative. This project will help to ensure the continued safety of Littlefork firefighters and the ability to efficiently serve the 13,311 residents in Littlefork and surrounding communities.

Funding for today's announcement was made available through the $150 million in grants included in the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act that President Trump signed into law on June 6, 2019. These grants are to help eligible rural communities continue their recovery from the devastating effects of natural disasters.

View the complete list of designated communities in Minnesota.

Grants may be used for relief in areas affected by Hurricanes Michael and Florence; wildfires in 2018; and other natural disasters where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided a notice declaring a Major Disaster Declaration and assigned a FEMA disaster recovery (DR) number. Please check the FEMA website for regular updates and names of additional communities that may be added.

Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are exhausted. Contact your local area office for further information or assistance with the application process. Grant assistance will be provided on a graduated scale; smaller communities with the lowest median household income are eligible for a higher proportion of grant funds. For application details and additional information, see page 47477 of the Sept. 10, 2019 Federal Register.

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 eligible rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.

In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force's findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a cornerstone recommendation of the task force.

To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-task-force-infographic.pdf).

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REPORT: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-prosperity-report.pdf