Albert Lea senior facility to receive $364K USDA grant to help improve health care

(ABC 6 News) – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Tuesday it is awarding $1.8 million in grants to help improve health care facilities in rural Minnesota communities.

The Emergency Rural Health Care grant money will be used for projects to help rural hospitals and health care providers implement telehealth and nutrition assistance programs, increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, build or renovate facilities, and purchase medical supplies.

It will also help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits, and Tribes build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system in response to the pandemic.

One of the places receiving grant money is St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. The senior community received $364,700 to recover lost revenue for the unexpected cost of supplies and staffing expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

To view what other health care facilities in Minnesota that will receive grant money, CLICK HERE.

In August 2021, USDA made the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants available through the American Rescue Plan Act that was passed in March 2021, to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to health care services and nutrition assistance.

The assistance is helping provide immediate relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and local communities. USDA is administering the funds through Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program.