The United States Department of Agriculture announced Friday that it will be funding the construction of a 9,910-square-foot mental health facility in Greenville, Alabama, as part of a program designed to upgrade facilities in rural America.

The total cost of the 16-bed forensic mental health facility will be $2,999,900. The USDA is loaning that amount to the South Central Alabama Mental Health Board for the construction of the building.

The South Central Board is working in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Mental Health on the project.

“It’s exciting to see rural Alabama prosper by building and improving essential community facilities,” said USDA Rural Development State Director for Alabama Chris Beeker in a statement.

According to a release from the Department, the “new facility will provide services to forensic patients to help diagnose and treat mental health conditions.”

The official name for the federal program is the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program.

The $3 million Alabama building is part of $153 million in new facilities and upgrades the Trump administration announced on Friday.

I am in the opinion that essential community infrastructure is key in ensuring rural areas to thrive,” added Beeker.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95