(KIWA Staff Photo)
Hospers, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — A new federal grant is providing the latest funding boost for Hospers’ new emergency services facility, a project more than a decade in the making and already under construction.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley announced that the United States Department of Agriculture has awarded $300,000 to the North West Rural Electric Cooperative through the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program.
According to the USDA, the funding will replenish an existing revolving loan fund administered by the cooperative. The initial loan from the fund will help finance the construction of the new Hospers emergency medical services building.
Grassley: Investment Will Strengthen Communities
Grassley said the investment will help improve public safety and support continued growth in northwest Iowa.
“I’m glad to see this investment coming to Sioux County as they work to build a new emergency medical services building in Hospers. These critical funds will promote the health and safety of northwest Iowans and strengthen economic development. In the Senate, I’ll keep working to ensure our state receives the federal funding we need to keep our communities safe and healthy.”
Project More Than a Decade in the Making
The new EMS and fire facility has been in planning and fundraising for more than 13 years. Community members gathered earlier this spring for a groundbreaking ceremony on the project, which will replace the department’s current facility.
Hospers Fire Chief Jason Overmohle has said the existing building — originally converted from a community structure — no longer meets the needs of modern emergency response. Limited space has created challenges for equipment storage, training, and future apparatus purchases.
The new facility will include:
- Expanded storage areas
- A dedicated indoor training space
- Improved functionality designed specifically for fire and EMS operations.
Officials say the building will also strengthen mutual aid efforts with surrounding communities, including Granville, Boyden, Sheldon, and others across Sioux County.
Funding Progress and Community Support
The project carries an estimated cost of $3.3 million. Earlier this year, fundraising organizers announced that about $2.3 million had already been committed through community donations, business support, and previous funding efforts — including a $500,000 contribution from Den Hartog Industries and the Den Hartog family.
According to the USDA, the latest federal funding is expected to help expand emergency services in the area and create three new volunteer positions.
Construction Timeline
Construction is underway, with the new facility expected to be completed and ready for use by April 2027.
