U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that that United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Community Facility Grant program will provide a total of $10,600 in federal grant funding to the City of Hawk Point and to Pike County to purchase new vehicles and equipment.

According to the USDA, the Community Facility Grant program funds may be used in the development, construction, or improvement of vital community facilities that improve the quality of life for rural residents. This particular funding will provide these Missouri communities with federal money to purchase equipment:

• City of Hawk Point (Lincoln County) - $7,000 grant to purchase a new police vehicle and equipment for the vehicle
• Pike County - $3,600 grant to purchase an SUV for the County Coroner and security cameras for their existing security system in their courthouse

McCaskill believes that federal grants and loans are a positive alternative to earmarks, which in the past have frequently had too little accountability. Competitive merit and need based federal grants and low-interest government loans bring federal assistance to Missouri in an honest and fiscally responsible manner.