USDA Rural Development Joins Scio Community to Celebrate Opening of New City Hall

(Portland, Ore., Oct. 1, 2026) - U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Oregon State Director Jim Carmack along with community members celebrated the opening of a new city hall for the city of Scio in Linn County yesterday.

"City halls and libraries play an outsized role in rural communities by serving as places to gather, learn, and participate in activities that give voice and direction to community actions," said Carmack. "Today USDA is a proud partner in seeing Scio's city hall project to completion."

Scio, a city of just under 1,000 people, received a $1,015,000 grant to replace its old town hall building with a new facility, which houses city hall, city library, and senior center. City officials recognized a full replacement was warranted when, in 2018, inspection revealed the old building was deteriorating. Now the building directly contributes to creating a safe and functional space for city operations, public gatherings, and learning opportunities. At its grand opening celebration, USDA Rural Development joined local residents and community leaders to tour the facility and celebrate its completion.

This project was funded through USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities Programs, which provide affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.

USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with programs to promote rural prosperity. These programs expand access to high-speed internet, electricity, and infrastructure, and support economic growth, healthcare, education, housing and other community essentials. Discover more investment details and historical data in the Rural Data Gateway and learn more about the agency at www.rd.usda.gov/or .

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