Investments to serve 7,286 rural Pennsylvanians to help increase the competitiveness of rural communities
Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 9, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $444,500 to help increase the competitiveness of rural communities in attracting and retaining businesses that provide employment and services for their residents.
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, I am honored to announce these investments in rural Pennsylvania. Missions like this are critical to the goals of President Trump as set forth in his Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. The CF program will help essential rural community facilities to provide necessary services. These types of projects improve rural communities and are exactly the type of local investment Rural Development was designed to help with,” said Trump Appointee Curt Coccodrilli, Pa. State Director for USDA Rural Development.
Background:
USDA Pennsylvania is funding 3 projects with total investments of $444,500 and will help serve rural Pennsylvanians through the Community Facilities Programs. The investment funding may be used to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and serve economic depression. For example:
- East Union Township located in Schuylkill County: Pa. was awarded $7,600 in Community Facilities Disaster Grant and $40,700 in Community Facilities Loan funding to benefit 1,605 residents in their community. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and upfit a patrol interceptor for East Union Township Law Enforcement Department. The new vehicle is needed because the township currently owns only two vehicles, and one of them is at the end of its useful life and is too costly to maintain. The new vehicle will allow the department to provide more reliable service to the community and a safer work environment for the officers.
- Girardville Borough located in Schuylkill County; Pa. was awarded $158,000 in Community Facilities Disaster Grant and $49,500 in Community Facilities Loan funding to benefit 1,519 residents in their community. This Rural Development investment will be used to replace the roof of the Girardville Borough’s City Hall located in Girardville, Pa. The building’s roof needs to be replaced due to significant deterioration. The improvements are needed to sustain the structure and life cycle of the municipal building. Funds will also be used to replace a 15-year-old backhoe that is too costly to repair and maintain.
- Mahanoy City Boro located in Schuylkill County; Pa. was awarded $141,200 in Community Facilities Disaster Grant and $47,500 in Community Facilities Loan funding to benefit 4,162 residents in their community. This Rural Development investments will be used to purchase and upfit a new patrol vehicle and dump truck. The Borough’s law enforcement department currently only had four vehicles and one of the vehicles is at the end of its useful life. The patrol vehicle will allow the department to provide more reliable service. The streets department needs the new dump truck since multiple vehicles in its current fleet are becoming too costly to maintain and also nearing the end of their useful lives.
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
Interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility details. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants a detailed overview of the application process.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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To schedule an interview with State Director Curt Coccodrilli, please contact Amber Albright at 717-237-2295 or Amber.Albright@usda.gov
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