Recently, a new funding option has become available to rural commuinties by offering low interest rate loans with a foregiveness clause offering up to 20% of the loan after five years to hospitals in communities who qualify to improve their economic viablity and future growth. The program initially was provided to grow economic development and has turned favorable to loaning money to rual community hospitals. Typically, these rual hospitals are one of the major employers of a community. Many are outdated and do not meet the new standards of care. Hospital are important to industries looking to relocate. These companies are attracted to the southeast by an improved quality of life style, lower cost of living an the availablilty of qualified lower cost workforce.
