Elect Ron Kind for Congress - Wisconsin Third Congressional District

A Crawford County community hit hard by last year's flood will receive an infusion of federal cash.

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., recently announced that the village of Gays Mills will receive $99,999 in funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The grant will be used to help purchase land for commercial development and allow for infrastructure updates following the floods of June 2008.

"This grant will help the community of Gays Mills facilitate the long-term planning necessary to rebuild the village and create jobs in the future," Kind said in a press release. "I am pleased to see Gays Mills getting the help it needs to recover from last year's flooding and to see Recovery Act funds investing in the future of western Wisconsin."

Construction is slated to begin in October. Many homes and businesses have been displaced for more than a year.

"Everything helps," said Larry McCarn, Gays Mills Village president. "Especially with the overwhelming need of this community, relocating part of the village, this grant is a huge relief. All these resources are what make it possible for us to keep going. This funding will make a huge impact on our ability to get construction started."