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USDA Highlights $40 Million in Infrastructure Investments in Rural Communities

Funding Helps Improve Streets, Transit Facilities and Other Structures to Spur Economic Growth and Create Jobs

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2017 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today highlighted U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments in Fiscal Year 2017 that will help construct or improve infrastructure and boost economic growth in rural communities.

“USDA is focused on improving rural America’s infrastructure,” Perdue said. “Investments such as the ones I’m highlighting today will improve the quality of life, create jobs, grow our economy and foster prosperity in rural areas.”

In Fiscal Year 2017, USDA used funding from the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program to invest more than $40 million in 31 projects to repair, enhance or build infrastructure. These investments were for projects such as surface transportation, aviation, ports, water and storm water resources, energy production and generation, and electricity transmission. They will benefit nearly 265,000 residents.

The investments are supporting projects in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont and Wyoming.

Below are some examples of infrastructure projects that Rural Development funded in FY 2017:

• Alabama: The Grand Bay Water Works Board, Inc. received $80,000 to install a new 125 KW diesel generator and automatic transfer switch at the water office building and two diesel standby power units which are located at a well treatment facility site.
• California: The Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District in Tulare County received an $11.3 million loan to replace 10 miles of steel irrigation pipe and to make road improvements. The District provides essential community services to nearly 170 homes, farms, municipalities and businesses.
• Florida: The city of Wauchula received $279,546 to purchase a side arm sanitation truck and 1,500 sanitation bins for the city.  The new truck replaces three older ones that are unreliable and costly to repair. Replacement of this equipment will improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.
• Georgia: The city of Ellaville received $39,000 to purchase three vehicles for Ellaville's Public Works Department.  The new trucks will replace high mileage, older vehicles to provide better and more efficient services to citizens.
• Hawaii: The Hawaiian Shores Community Association received $2,050,000 to help finance replacement of the existing water storage tank with a 370,000 gallon tank, replace one of the two booster pumps, replace the hydropneumatic tank, upgrade the pressure relief valves, replace a section of piping to provide fire flow, install end-of-line clean outs, and make electrical upgrades. The system improvements are projected to serve the current needs and the future growth of the community.
• Iowa: The city of Lamoni received $313,940 to dismantle, transport and rebuild a used hanger large enough to house six small jets or midsize turbo prop aircraft; expand the taxiway and apron; expand the existing runway; and acquire land in order to expand the runway an additional 4,000 feet at the city’s airport.
• Illinois: The Village of Energy received $251,000 to resurface 3,950 feet of the west side of College Street – the major east-west road through the town. This project will make extensive road repairs for safety and to attract more businesses while providing an essential community service to approximately 1,100 residents in the village.
• Kansas: The city of Wilson received $75,000 to upgrade the city’s streets to support a new housing development and associated infrastructure.
• Kentucky: The city of Hazard received $200,000 to renovate an old downtown bus station to enhance economic development in the area.
• Maine: The Aroostook Band of Micmacs received $500,000 to construct a two-story, 5,000 square foot public works, multifunction facility in Presque Isle. The facility will also provide needed space for various tribal programs including housing, realty and assets, youth, Head Start and elder programs.  The project involves road, water, sewer and electrical upgrades and a new paved parking area.
• New Jersey: The Buena Vista Township received $753,000 to demolish the old portion of the public works building and construct a public works facility on the same footprint.
• North Carolina: The town of Elizabethtown received a $1.6 million loan to implement Phase II of the downtown revitalization project. The city will bury overhead utilities, install street lighting at 33 locations, and improve the landscaping and replace sidewalks along Broad Street, just west of the central business district. This project will help increase the quality of life for residents by enhancing walkability and potentially attracting new businesses downtown.
• Ohio: Harrison Township received $525,000 to finance the construction of a building to house township offices, maintenance facilities and equipment. This new building will replace two older ones which no longer meet Harrison Township's needs, nor current accessibility standards for public buildings. The fully accessible building will provide 2,087 area residents with improved services.
• Oklahoma: The Stigler Municipal Improvement Authority received $1,000,000 to install water and sewer infrastructure and complete parking and sidewalk work for a new critical access hospital to be constructed as a public-private partnership.
• Pennsylvania: The North Coventry Township received $2,968,000 to construct a public works building and salt shed for the township.
• Puerto Rico: The municipality of Moca received $3,000,000 to pave roads, construct catch basins, reconstruct entrances, and install concrete railing and steel guard rails. This road enhancement project will help improve the safety and quality of life for more than 5,000 families living in seven rural wards in Moca.
• South Dakota: The city of Winner received $350,000 to make improvements to the street along East 8th in Winner, including drainage, asphalt, water main improvements and sewer upgrades.
• Tennessee: The city of Sweetwater received $477,700 to help construct an administration building and a warehouse for storage of materials. The administration building will house the gas, electric, sewer and water departments and serve as a location for customers to pay their bills.
• Texas:  Somerset in Bexar County received a $1.28 million loan to resurface cracking and degraded roadways, reduce sediment build-up along the roads and improve drainage. Ponding on the existing surface creates a dangerous loss of traction when it rains. In addition to serving residential, commercial, educational and agricultural uses, Somerset’s roads provide key access for emergency vehicles. The USDA loan will create safer travel conditions for Somerset’s residents and emergency responders.
• Virginia: The town of Farmville received $94,000 to purchase a Flail Mower Boom Tractor to clear right of way banks and ditch lines.
• Vermont: Southeast Vermont Transit, Inc. received $1,500,000 to expand the Southeast Vermont Transit, Inc. (SEVT) facility in Rockingham. The project will renovate office space, add a mechanics bay, bus wash, parts room, storage, and a small mechanical room.  The facility improvements will save energy and operational costs by using efficient fixtures, recycling water and reducing sewer discharges. This will allow SEVT to continue serving more than 30 rural southern Vermont towns in a financially sustainable manner.
• Wyoming: Tongue River Valley Joint Powers Board received $3,985,000 to construct a natural gas pipeline from Sheridan, extending 17 miles along County Road 98 and County Road 67 to the communities of Dayton and Ranchester. Construction will include distribution lines throughout both communities.  These improvements are expected to save the average household approximately $1,729 annually by switching from electric heating to natural gas, and $953 annually by switching from propane to natural gas.

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 services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit rd.usda.gov.

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You've dreaded this moment for years, happy to avoid awkwardness and uncomfortable explanations. But recently, your child has been asking the hard questions, like "How long can I really live at home after high school?" and "Why can’t I just attend Hogwarts?" You know you can't dodge the talk forever.

According to the education experts at Magoosh [https://magoosh.com]—an online solution that gives everyone access to enjoyable, affordable, and quality test prep—the perfect time to map out the road to college is winter break, when you and your child both have excess time. Here are 4 steps to having a successful (and not stressful) talk:

>> STEP 1: SET GOAL SCHOOLS

Start the conversation by asking your child about their dream schools. Always get excited and encourage their choices—they don't need any negativity coming from their own family.

>> STEP 2: LET'S TALK ABOUT TESTS, BABY

Look up the test scores your child needs to get into their dream schools and set a goal score. Then, gently tell them the way to meet their goals is to start studying for the ACT and SAT early instead of trying to go into the test blind.

>> STEP 3: LET YOUR CHILD SET THE TONE

Ask your child what would best help them prepare for the test instead of trying to force resources on them—and then help them choose some low-cost, fun options they can get started with after the break.

>> STEP 4: TALK BEFORE THE PRESENTS

Don't try to force a stressful talk on your child right before an exciting holiday like Christmas—make a detailed college plan at the beginning of the break and use holiday fun as a reward for getting it done!

On a mission to make test prep fun and affordable for all, Magoosh offers quality SAT and ACT prep materials for hundreds of dollars less than their competitors.

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2017 SMALL GRAIN COUNTY ESTIMATES 

County-level estimates for 2017 small grains are now available, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The estimates, based primarily on surveys conducted with farmers and ranchers this fall, can be accessed using the QuickStats online database, found here:  http://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/. 

The commodity estimates include spring wheat, Durum wheat, winter wheat, barley, and oats. County-level estimates for late-season crops and hay will be published in February and April 2018, respectively. 

For state specific questions please contact:  

 Arizona – Dave DeWalt   1-800-645-7286  Colorado – William R. Meyer  1-800-392-3202  Montana – Eric Sommer  1-800-835-2612  New Mexico – Longino Bustillos 1-800-530-8810  Utah – John Hilton   1-800-747-8522  Wyoming – Rhonda Brandt  1-800-892-1660 

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Utah Film Center Unveils Creative Workshops, Clubhouse Activities and Free Resources for Teachers at the

7th Annual ‘Tumbleweeds’ Film Festival for Children and Youth

Workshop Topics Include Virtual Reality, Sound Effects For Film, and Movie Makeup

Attention Teachers: Free Field Trips Available for Grades 1 - 12 and Teachers of All Subjects Encouraged to Sign Up for Free Film Spark Workshop

Salt Lake City, UT - Utah Film Center announced today the workshops, Clubhouse activities and free resources for teachers at the 7th annual Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Children and Youth. Film education is a cornerstone of Utah Film Center’s mission and the workshops, Clubhouse activities and field trips at Tumbleweeds are a celebration of the power film has to spark new ideas, inspire deeper levels of engagement, help students think critically, and support a teacher’s curriculum. The Festival will take place March 2 - 4, 2018 at Library Square and the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. The highly anticipated film lineup will be announced on January 10, 2018.

Early Bird Passes and Family Sponsorships are now on sale on Utah Film Center’s website for what is sure to be another incredible weekend for kids of all ages: utahfilmcenter.org/twds2018. Individual film and workshop tickets will go on sale January 10, 2018.

Suzi Montgomery, Media Arts Education Director of Utah Film Center, said, “At Tumbleweeds we want to provide educational experiences that are fresh and highly experiential. We programmed the workshops for Tumbleweeds to connect kids directly with experts in the virtual reality, sound effects and film makeup fields to deepen their appreciation for the craft and inspire them to dig deeper into the elements of a story.”

WORKSHOPS:

It’s All In Your Head(set) – Take a Trip with Virtual Reality

All Ages

You've probably heard of Virtual Reality, or "VR", but have you really tried it? With the help of VR pioneer Ryan Buchanan, you will take a trip to the next frontier of virtual reality and learn how a smart phone and set of goggles can transport you to a new world. And guess what: you might just learn something along the way, so join us for this trip of a lifetime!

Feel the Noise – Making Sound Effects for Film

Ages 8+

Stop. Hey, what’s that sound? Most of the time when we watch a movie we aren’t thinking about the sounds we hear. But, just like the visuals on the screen, sound has a huge impact on us as an audience. In this workshop, YOU are the sound designer. You’ll start with a silent film and add ALL of the sound effects and music you want. The professional sound designers at BluFire Studios will guide you through the process of designing the soundtrack for your new film.

Special FX Hollywood Makeup

Ages 10+

“People don’t usually pay attention to make-up in a show unless it’s done wrong,” says Curtis Kidd. And now, with over 20 years of experience doing stage and special effects makeup, prosthetics, and costume design for productions like Frightmares, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid, he is onsite at Tumbleweeds to teach you how to get your zombie face on, or make you look like you just stepped out of a boxing ring.

CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

The Tumbleweeds Clubhouse is free for all Library Square patrons and features over 20 craft and technology activities in The City Library's Urban Room (main lobby) and The Leonardo's Entrance Atrium. Activities this year will include virtual reality games from Playful Corp, Indonesian shadow puppets with the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, DIY visual puzzles from Salt Lake City Maker Faire, and many more! As more Tumbleweeds Clubhouse events and activities are added they will be listed on the schedule here: utahfilmcenter.org/twds2018

FREE ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHERS:

Festival Field Trips

For Grades 1+

The week leading up to the Festival we are proud to offer school screenings in Salt Lake City and West Jordan, each with a post-film discussion. All participating teachers will receive a study guide packet. This year we expand our offerings with a special Thursday all-day event that combines a film screening, post-film discussion, and workshops. Underwriting for bus/transportation support is available. Reserve your class field trip today, seats will fill up quickly: utahfilmcenter.org/fieldtrips

Film Spark Teacher Workshop

Teacher of all subjects in teams of 3 or more; grades 6-12

Film can spark conversation like few other platforms in the classroom can so the Utah Film Center created Film Spark to help teachers with a curriculum that provides structure for discussing important global topics. At Tumbleweeds join the Utah Film Center and documentary director Jean Michel Dissard, from the highly acclaimed film I Learn America for a free Film Spark workshop focused on integrating award-winning documentary films into your classroom. Each participating school team (3 or more teachers grades 6-12) receives a Film Spark Volume I curriculum guide containing twelve documentary DVDs and corresponding, standards-linked study guides, and Utah State Board of Education relicensure credit. To sign up email rwray@utahfilmcenter.org. To learn more about the specific Film Spark documentary titles and to watch their trailers, visit utahfilmcenter.org/filmspark

MEDIA RESOURCES:

For photos of past Tumbleweeds festivals visit our press folder here: utahfilmcenter.org/press/tumbleweeds

Utah Film Center issues complimentary passes and ticket requests for working members of the media and their families. Please reach out to Josh Levey (jlevey@utahfilmcenter.org) if you wish to cover the Festival and experience it with your family by no later than February 1, 2018.

ABOUT UTAH FILM CENTER’S TUMBLEWEEDS FILM FESTIVAL:

Utah Film Center’s Tumbleweeds Film Festival is an annual film festival for children and youth, ages 4 and up. Launched in 2011, Tumbleweeds provides opportunities for film lovers of all ages to engage their creative spirit, and bridge cultures by experiencing films whose stories transcend geographic, cultural, and political boundaries. Past Festival films include A Monster in Paris, The Eagle Huntress, Oddball, Long Way North (Tout en haut du monde), Eleanor’s Secret, Felix, Chandani the Elephant Whisperer, My Friend Raffi, I Learn America, Rainbow, and Ernest & Celestine. Films at Tumbleweeds are screened in their original language. Foreign language screenings are presented with English subtitles that will be read over listening devices by a “subtitle reader” for audience members who prefer an English dialogue track.

Tumbleweeds Film Festival and Utah Film Center are generously supported by Zions Bank, Salt Lake County Zoo Arts and Parks, and George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.

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Utah Film Center

Utah Film Center inspires and engages diverse audiences to initiate conversation and community building through curated film exhibition, educational programs, and artist support. We continually strives to bring our community together through the powerful and efficient medium of film. Utah Film Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For more information visit utahfilmcenter.org.