(Anita, Iowa) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development and other officials gathered at the Anita Fire Station this (Wednesday) morning, to talk about $136,000 in grants for Community Facilities Programs in the City.

Xochitl Torres-Small, Under Secretary for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture.

Xochitl (So-CHEEl) Torres-Small, Dee Fischer, an Area Specialist in Rural Development with the USDA, and USDA Rural Development Acting State Director in Iowa Darin Leach toured the Anita Fire station. Fischer explained to the Under Secretary how the funds were being used

In the past, the USDA has helped Anita purchase a new ambulance and fire truck which is housed in the fire station. The City is in the process of discussing and seeking USDA funding for a $1.25-million streets improvement project that involves an asphalt overlay and ADA accessible sidewalks. Snyder and Associates Engineer Austin Sonntag said it will cover about 35-to- 40 city blocks. A sewer lagoon is currently under construction, in Anita. Darin Leach said the USDA has also provided Revolving Loan Funds for the City.

Fire Chief Eric Steffensen showed the Under Secretary a new cot/guerney and a CPR device they purchased with the grant, that will help prevent injuries to EMS personnel and free up personnel to tend to a patient who is in cardiac arrest. The old cot required two-to-four people to load a patient into the ambulance, especially if they were heavy. The new cot makes the task easier for one person with the push of a button.

Another thing the grant money is being used for, is fixing the leaking Fire Department roof. It will also be used for purchasing 10 sets of fire protection gear. Some of their old gear is about 15-years old, and past its useful life expectancy of 10-years. The new gear isn’t expected to arrive until sometime in January or February. The City of Anita has previously purchased seven sets for their more active-duty firefighters.

Under Secretary Torres-Small said she has always been impressed by the citizens in rural communities and how much they invest their own lives into the community to help it thrive and grow.