(WASHINGTON, D.C.) U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), ranking Republican member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) have announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the Hospital Authority of Miller County a $7.6 million loan to assist in refinancing and making improvements and additions to the existing hospital and nursing home facilities. The funding is administered through USDA's Community Facility Loan Program, which helps finance essential community facilities for public use in rural areas.

"This is great news for Miller County and residents that rely on this hospital and nursing home facility for care," said Sen. Chambliss. "The facility serves a critical need in Miller County, and this funding will go a long way to make certain necessary improvements can be made to better serve the community. Sen. Isakson and I fully support this project and appreciate USDA making the planned improvements possible."

"I'm extremely pleased to announce this funding for the Hospital Authority of Miller County," Isakson said. "These funds will go a long way toward ensuring that residents of the region receive superior health care from both of these facilities."

"I am extremely excited that the USDA is supporting our loan application," said Robin Rau, Miller County Hospital CEO. "The funding will be used to restructure some existing debt and provide much needed financing to help shore up some infrastructure in both our hospital and nursing home. Miller County Hospital is the economic engine of our community; it is the largest employer in our county. These projects will stimulate our local, state and national economy as well as secure the future of this health care organization."

Miller County Hospital and Miller Nursing Home is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital with an attached 97-bed skilled nursing facility. With 270 employees, they are the largest employer in the county and serve as an economic engine for the area.

For more information on the Community Facility Loan Program and other rural programs available at USDA, go to: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov .