USDA Allocates $152 Million for Rural Development Projects in Iowa

On August 9, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced at the Iowa State Fair that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $152 million in 19 rural development projects across Iowa. The announcement took place during a news conference attended by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, prior to Rollins participating in the Governors Charity Steer Show, where she presented the steer "Snoop Dog."

The USDA Rural Development funding will be distributed through grant and loan programs to support various infrastructure and economic projects. Key allocations include a $37 million loan for Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center for expansion and renovation; a $5 million grant and $39 million loan to the City of Emmetsburg to replace its wastewater treatment facility; and a $27.7 million loan to the Southern Sioux County Rural Water System for new wells, a treatment plant, and transmission lines in Plymouth and Sioux Counties.

Rollins described the initiative as an unprecedented, coordinated rural development project intended to boost rural economies, improve infrastructure, and encourage private investment. Governor Reynolds expressed gratitude for the partnership, stating, “During this time of uncertainty in the ag economy, I’m so grateful to have a partner that we can rely on.”

Rollins also linked the investment to broader efforts by President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress aimed at supporting farmers. She mentioned complementary measures including new international trade agreements, expanded farm safety net programs, and agriculture-related provisions in a recently passed budget reconciliation bill.

On August 9, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins attended the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, to participate in the Governor's Charity Steer Show and announce $152 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments for rural development projects across Iowa. Rollins made the announcement during a news conference alongside Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

The USDA funding will support 19 projects through Rural Development grant and loan programs. Major allocations include:
- A $37 million loan for Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center to expand and renovate its facility.
- A $5 million grant and $39 million loan for the City of Emmetsburg to replace its wastewater treatment facility.
- A $27.7 million loan to the Southern Sioux County Rural Water System for constructing new wells, a treatment plant, and transmission lines in Plymouth and Sioux Counties.

Rollins described the initiative as an unprecedented, coordinated rural development effort aimed at boosting rural economies, improving infrastructure, and encouraging private investments. She stated, “This unprecedented, coordinated rural development project will help boost the rural economies, develop rural infrastructure and encourage private investments.”

Governor Reynolds expressed gratitude for USDA’s partnership, saying, “During this time of uncertainty in the ag economy, I’m so grateful to have a partner that we can rely on.”

Rollins emphasized that the investment is part of a broader federal strategy under President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to prioritize farmers, including through new international trade agreements, enhancements to farm safety net programs, and agriculture funding in the budget reconciliation bill.