WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded Western Illinois University and the Western Illinois Regional Council Community Action Agency with funding to invest in our rural communities in west-central Illinois.
“Investing in our local farming communities is critical to growing the economy in west-central Illinois and that is exactly what these grants accomplish. The grants awarded today will provide critical assistance to low-income families whose homes are in vital need of refurbishment or upgrade and fund operations for cooperatively-owned grocery stores in smaller communities,” stated Rep. LaHood. “Rural communities are critical to the overall prosperity of our 18th District and I appreciate the USDA’s commitment to investing in projects that will help those in need and expand access to necessary resources in our local communities.”
Description of the awards:
Western Illinois Regional Council - $202,576.52 awarded in a Rural Preservation Grant
This funding will go directly to the refurbishment of 30 low to very low-income houses in rural communities of Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, Warren, and Fulton Counties. This includes repairs to existing foundation, roofs, heating systems, electrical wiring, labor and materials, or handicap accessibility upgrades.
Western Illinois University - $200,000 awarded in Rural Cooperative Development Grants
This rural investment will go towards funding of the Illinois Cooperative Development Center, which is part of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University. The Illinois Cooperative Development Center will use the grant funds to develop cooperatively-owned grocery stores in rural communities and explore the creation of cooperatively owned housing units.
