When the Montmorenci Volunteer Fire Department received approval in March for a loan it had applied for more than a year ago, the department lost no time putting the money to good use.

Inside the fire department sits a gleaming red 3,000-gallon pumper truck the department purchased last month.

Watching as Assistant Fire Chief Bob Verbockel slowly drove the truck out of the garage, Chief Bernard Curry explained why the department needed a new pumper truck.

"It's replacing a 35-year-old truck that was converted to a water truck for our purposes," Chief Curry said. "It's a major boon to us now."

The department will not retire the old truck.

"We're trying to refurbish it and put it back into service," Chief Verbockel said. "We may end up using it for training."

The old truck still has a good transmission and engine, he said.

The new truck was bought with a $145,300 loan administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency. Chief Curry said the agency worked closely with the department to ensure the community received a low-interest loan.

"Small communities don't realize there are federal programs available," said Marlous Black, a spokesman for the agency.

Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.