Plymouth, IN—Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly visited the future site of the Community Resource Center to announce that the center will receive a $2,390,000 low-interest loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a result of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The center will provide a central building location for many of Marshall County’s social service agencies.
“I am happy that the USDA decided to invest in Marshall County and the people who live here,” Donnelly said. “The investment, which was made possible by the recovery package Congress passed earlier this year, will generate economic activity through the construction of this facility and improve the delivery of many of the social services that county residents rely on.”
The Marshall County Neighborhood Council, a non-profit corporation, has been working on the concept of a community resource center for over 20 years. In rural communities like Marshall County, many social service agencies are open on a part-time basis and have limited staff and budgets. Putting many of these agencies in the same location will allow for the service providers to share equipment and eliminate duplicative services, thereby reducing overall costs.
The Council applied for a loan from the USDA in July 2008. Donnelly wrote a letter in support of their loan application and worked with Marshall County to follow up on the status of the loan. He was notified this past May that the center was granted the loan.
“We’re very thankful that the USDA deemed our project worthy of financing,” said Rev. Ronald Liechty, president of the board of the Community Resource Center. “This is an important project for community, and we’re excited to move ahead with it in the near future.
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