A United States Department of Agriculture loan in the amount of
$4.2 million will fund expansions in care facilities at the Williamson
Appalachian Regional Healthcare hospital, the organizations announced Friday.
"In our Williamson market, certainly, we think the expanded
services there will help to preserve existing jobs, and perhaps also open an
opportunity for new jobs as well," said Rick King, general counsel for
ARH.
Supporting communities in this way is one role of the federal
government, said Tony Hernandez, administrator for housing services with the
USDA.
"The role of the federal government is to support local
communities, solving their problems," said Hernandez. "We do that
both with technical assistance and with some financial assistance."
The expansion could also help other areas, said Hernandez.
"If we save jobs at the hospital, they also buy supplies at
other places, different places in
