The Department of Agriculture Tuesday announced Emergency Rural Health Care Grant recipients. Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small made the announcement in Charlottesville, Virginia. The funds will expand access to health care for more than five million people living in 39 states and Puerto Rico. Torres Small says, “USDA’s Emergency Rural Health Care Grants are helping strengthen rural America’s health care infrastructure to build for the future.” USDA is awarding $129 million to improve healthcare facilities in rural towns nationwide. These grants will help 172 rural healthcare organizations expand critical services. The investments will help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits and Tribes solve regional rural healthcare challenges. For example, in the Midwest, Southern Illinois Hospital Services is partnering with local healthcare organizations to build an in-patient psychiatric unit to address a regional need to expand access to mental healthcare services for people in Southern Illinois. Find a list of grant recipients at USDA.gov.