Trump Administration Invests over $630,000 in Community Facilities Programs in Rural Pennsylvania
Investments to serve 25,929 rural Pennsylvanians to help increase the competitiveness of rural communities
Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 7, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $639,200 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 4 projects with total investments of $639,200 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:
- Berwick Borough located in Columbia County; Pa. was awarded $32,600 in Community Facilities Disaster Grant funding to benefit 10,477 residents their community. The Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and upfit four new patrol vehicles. The new vehicles are needed because currently the department only has seven patrol cars that are shared between sixteen (16) officers. These additional vehicles will allow the department to more efficiently provide a safer environment for the borough. Funds will also be used to purchase a new computer server. This server will replace the borough’s outdated and insufficient server.
- Berwick Theater and Center for Community Arts, Inc. located in Columbia County; Pa. was awarded $20,500 in Community Facilities Disaster Grant and $100,000 loan funding to benefit 10,477 residents in their community. This Rural Development investment will be used to upgrade the HVAC and boiler systems in the Berwick Theater and Center for Community Arts. This upgrade is needed to help the theater save on energy costs.
- City of Pottsville located in Schuylkill County; Pa. was awarded $346,400 in Community Facilities Disaster Grant funding to benefit 14,324 residents in their community. This Rural Development investment will be used to provide additional funding for the Pottsville parking garage.
- South Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. located in Bradford County; Pa. was awarded $32,600 in Community Facilities Disaster Grant funding to benefit 1,128 residents in their community. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase fifteen (15) new air packs, fifteen (15) new cylinders, and an extraction tool to replace the aging equipment used by the South Creek Volunteer Fire Department. The current equipment will follow current guidelines and standards in order to provide public service and safety to a rural community, as well as improve the safety of the firefighters.
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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