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USDA Announces Grant to Help Fund Knox County R-1 Electric Bus Purchase

USDA Rural Development Press Release

COLUMBIA, MO, Sept. 16, 2020 – The Trump Administration, along with Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Missouri Jeff Case, today announced that the USDA is awarding $122,500 to Knox County R-1 School District to add an electric school bus to its fleet.

“Hard working rural Missourians understand the importance of keeping costs in line—whether on the farm, in business, or even in the public schools their tax dollars support,” said Trump Administration Official State Director Case.  “With the addition of an electric bus, Knox County residents can rest assured their school district also values good stewardship, both environmentally and fiscally.  Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Missouri in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

Knox County R-1 School District will use a $122,500 Community Facilities Grant to help purchase the bus.  Additional funding will be contributed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resource Volkswagen Trust Fund Grant; Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative; and the school district.

Knox County R-1 School District operates 14 buses and 9 bus routes, largely on rural roads, and budgets to replace one school bus each year.  An electric model is expected to have a longer useful life than its diesel counterpart and will serve to provide dependable, environmentally friendly transportation to the districts’ students.  It also comes at an opportune time, with school districts paying close attention to their annual spending, as the electric bus will allow the district to decrease annual fuel and maintenance costs.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas.  For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mo.