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The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced nearly $5 million in grants to help improve water access and health care facilities in rural Iowa communities.

Fayette, Wayne, Taylor, Crawford and Pottawattamie counties are recipients of the grants announced Wednesday by Iowa Rural Development Director Mike Sexton.

“At Rural Development, we believe our Iowa farms and small towns are part of the bedrock that supports our country,” Sexton said in a statement. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rollins, USDA is helping to deliver more reliable water supplies and healthcare facilities to make rural Iowa a better place to live and work.”

The water system grants f

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