Biden, Vilsack say stimulus will help rural areas

FAISON, N.C. — Vice President Joe Biden says the federal economic stimulus will help rural communities thrive and not just survive the recession.

Biden and Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited parts of rural North Carolina on Wednesday to tout the benefits of the $787 billion stimulus.

During a tour of Goshen Medical Center in Faison, Biden said $635,000 from the package will help the community health care clinic hire two physicians and two nurses. The clinic sees about 41,000 people annually at 20 sites in five counties.

The stimulus includes about $2 billion for community health centers, and approximately $500 million has already been sent to clinics nationwide.

Biden and Vilsack will visit a fire department later Wednesday in Pikeville.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)