Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 10 am, local, state, and federal officials, along with Washington County Economic Alliance, Delta Compass, business owners, and stakeholders gathered for the sign unveiling at Greenville’s airport.
The ceremony quickly became a bigger celebration when USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden announced $144 million in investment awards for 56 different projects around the United States.
Gooden, along with Mayor Errick D. Simmons, Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chair Dr. Corey Wiggins, and USDA Rural Development State Director Dr. Trina N. George announced new public-private partnerships and funding awarded to organizations nationwide, including the Greenville Mid-Delta Airport, at the airport’s new sign unveiling.
The airport is in Phase II of funding for the Hanger revitalization project it received two years ago at the inception of the USDA Rural Development program.
In this second round of funding 56 different projects are granted funds, and of the 56 only four organizations in Mississippi, and one doing business in the state will receive the grant awards, and of those only one is in Washington County.
The combined total amount of funds to be released in Mississippi is $871,978, with $471,978 of that going to Delta Health Alliance Inc.
As part of the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant, Delta Health Alliance Incorporated will receive $471,978 Rural Development investment that will equip one hub site and two hub/end-user sites located in Washington and DeSoto counties in Mississippi with updates to a telehealth network, offer new services and functionality for our rural clinicians, and offer new distance learning opportunities.
Professionals located at Leland Medical Clinic, Delta Health Alliance Headquarters, and The Endocrine Clinic will provide two fixed locations access to and completion of evidence-based chronic disease, diabetes, and chronic pain educational programs that specifically teach participants important self-management skills to engage them in the development of customized health goals and activities to achieve those goals. It is anticipated that this project will benefit approximately 5,000 residents.
Under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Grant - Technical Assistance Grant, four companies from Mississippi will each receive $100,000.
Atlas Consulting Services, from Gulfport, EIM LLC. from Taylor, Vets for Youth, near Jackson and Energy Hunters LLC. who has six active locations around the county, the closest one to Greenville is in Arkansaw.
The Rural Development investment will be used to assist these companies.
The businesses will provide agricultural producers and rural small businesses in distressed/disadvantaged communities with assistance in applying for Rural Energy for America grants.
“From day one of his administration, President Biden has driven an economic agenda that is rebuilding our economy from the middle out and bottom-up, not top down,” Gooden said. “In just two years, the Rural Partners Network has shown incredible progress and continues to work with rural and Tribal communities to access the unprecedented resources made available through the Biden-Harris Administration. In addition to addressing specific needs in communities like those in the Mississippi Delta, we’re making sure rural voices are heard and reflected in national policies that will benefit people in rural communities across the country.”
The Federal funds are being awarded through the Rural Partners Network, and this month marks the two-year anniversary of USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s visit to the Mississippi Delta when he announced the launch of the Rural Partners Network.
The Rural Partners Network (RPN) is an alliance of federal agencies and commissions working
directly with rural communities to expand rural prosperity through job creation, infrastructure
development, and community improvement.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Under Secretary Gooden to Mississippi as we celebrate two years of the Rural Partners Network,” said George, “His visit demonstrates USDA’s commitment to rural Americans, and projects like the Mid-Delta Airport renovation show we are serious about making investments in rural areas to improve the lives of all Mississippians, no matter where they live.”
Simmons was on hand for the announcement and echoed the thoughts of George and Gooden.
“You know this is another great day in Greenville where local, regional, and federal partners come together to give a nod to the continued progress that is happening in Greenville,” Simmons said.”Folks headed to the Greenville Mid-Delta Airport will now have a shiny new sign, inspired by the city’s progress, to greet them. In this administration, we have put first the need to permanently improve our region’s competitiveness in aviation and aerospace by and through
this airport. This sign is a nod and a big thank-you to Greenville City Council, our Airport staff, Washington County, WCEA, DRA and Dr. Corey Wiggins, RPN, USDA and Dr. Trina George, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Undersecretary Gooden, Secretary Tom Vilsack, the Biden-Harris Administration for a clear example in how federal investments in rural America are maximizing the vision and equitable outcomes of local communities.“
