Farm Credit Financing Helps DSC Enhance Lives
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A new bond financing program which promotes investments in Rural America has resulted in a new working relationship between Development Services Center (DSC) and Farm Credit Services of Illinois. Farm Credit, through its Agriculture and Rural Community (ARC) Bond program, now provides financing for projects that serve communities with populations of 50,000 and below. |
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DSC serves children and adults with developmental disabilities in Champaign, Ford, Piatt, and Iroquois Counties; based in Champaign, DSC also has locations in Rantoul and Urbana. In 2007, DSC served more than 1,300 children and adults with disabilities such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, Down syndrome, and other disabling conditions.
Adult consumers receive training for independent living skills, vocational development, residential options, social skills, recreational opportunities, transportation, and community access. DSC also provides respite services which provide families with intermittent, temporary relief to the primary caregiver. Respite services offer short-term care, typically provided in the family home. Through the Family Development Center, children – infants to age five – may receive speech therapy, physical therapy, daycare consultations, weekly play groups, and mental health services. Additionally, all consumers and their families have access to DSC’s Family Resource Center.
Farm Credit’s ARC Bond Program allowed DSC to obtain competitive financing with flexible terms. “We feel fortunate to be able to count on the consistency of our 15 year fixed-rate mortgage during these uncertain times. This collaboration with Farm Credit provides additional stability for our organization during fiscally challenging times in the State of Illinois,” says DSC Chief Executive Officer Dale Morrissey.
Established through a 1972 merger of four community organizations, DSC is committed to the mission of enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing services and the support needed to enable them to live, work, learn, and participate in their communities.
Farm Credit Services of Illinois is a farmer owned and directed agricultural lending cooperative. With $2.3 billion of assets and 170 employees in 21 branch offices, they provide competitive and flexible farm financing and crop insurance expertise to 8,000 farmers, agribusinesses, and rural landowners in the southern 60 counties of Illinois. The ARC Bond program allows them to also finance rural community projects. As a part of the U.S. Farm Credit System, the Farm Credit Services of Illinois association’s mission is to provide financial capital and financial services to agriculture and Rural America.