U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA Invests $16 Million to Improve Community Infrastructure for People Living in Rural Pennsylvania

Name
Daniel Blottenberger
Email
Daniel.Blottenberger@usda.gov
Phone
(717) 237-2153
City
Harrisburg
Release Date

Funding Will Increase Access to Health Care, Education and Public Safety for the People Who Call Rural Communities Home

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director Bob Morgan today announced that USDA is investing more than $16 million in 30 essential rural community facility projects and equipment in rural Pennsylvania.

“These facilities are part of the fabric of the rural communities they serve,” Morgan said. “These investments will improve public buildings and provide much needed equipment for our local communities throughout rural Pennsylvania. USDA Rural Development is proud to administer these loans and grants where they are needed most.”

Morgan highlighted the projects that USDA is making in two programs that will fund essential community services to help rural America build back better, stronger and more equitably than ever before. These programs include Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants, and Economic Impact Initiative Grants. The investments include the following:

  • The Bear Creek Foundation in Luzerne County received a Community Facility Direct Loan of $11.4 million to construct a 36,000 square-foot addition to its existing charter school.
  • Edwardsville Borough in Luzerne County received an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of 33,200 to purchase a new Chevrolet Tahoe with attachments. The vehicle will be used for daily monitoring and enforcing codes and zoning laws. 
  • Port Carbon Borough in Schuylkill County received a Community Facility Direct Loan of $31,900 to purchase a new police vehicle for the borough's Police Department. 
  • Waynesboro Borough in Franklin County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $161,800 to purchase portable radios with mounting stations for the Waynesboro Police Department.
  • The Plumsteadville Volunteer Fire Company in Bucks County received a Community Facility Direct Loan of $559,300 for extensive renovations of Main Station 24.
  • Dean Township in Cambria County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $39, 300 for a roof replacement project for their township facility.
  • The Borough of Carrolltown in Cambria County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $45,500 to purchase a new Ford Interceptor upfitted with the necessary equipment for a patrol vehicle. 
  • Fayette Emergency Medical Service in Fayette County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $490,000 for the purchase of 19 new monitor and defibrillator combinations with associated equipment.
  • Brownsville Ambulance Service Inc. in Fayette County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $110,500 to purchase a new Speclin 2020 ambulance and associated equipment.
  • Pennsburg Borough in Montgomery County received a Community Facility Direct Loan of $1.3 million for extensive renovations on two buildings on a single municipal parcel. 
  • The Sutersville Volunteer Fire Company in Westmorland County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $187,700 to purchase a new pumper truck, hose and spreader package for Sutersville Volunteer Fire Company.
  • Jeannette EMS Inc. in Westmorland County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $228,500 to purchase two new ambulances. 
  • Williamsburg Borough in Blair County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $46,400 to purchase body cameras for the police department and a pickup truck with plow. 
  • Gallitzin Borough in Blair County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $75,100 to construct a new salt shed.
  • The Meadville Public Library in Crawford County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $132,460 for a roof replacement. 
  • The Borough of Huntingdon in Huntingdon County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $111,800 to purchase a new Ford Interceptor and Dodge Durango, both will be upfitted with the necessary equipment for law enforcement vehicles. 
  • The Borough of Clymer in Indiana County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $80,800 to purchase two new law enforcement vehicles with the appropriate fittings and appurtenances.
  • Northwest EMS in Lancaster County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $165,600 to refurbish a 2015 ambulance.
  • The Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department in McKean County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $780,000 to purchase two 2021 KME Pumper Tanker Trucks with accessories. 
  • The City of Bradford in McKean County received a Community Facilities Grant of $100,000 to purchase a Ford E350 chassis with patient box and attachments. 
  • Kane Borough in McKean County received an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $27,300 to purchase a new police interceptor with additional equipment and a security system for the police department. 
  • Mount Carmel Township in Northumberland County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $112,700 to purchase a 2022 pickup truck with plow and spreader, and a Kubota tractor for township road maintenance.
  • The Shamokin Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority in Northumberland County received an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $19,480 to purchase a 2022 Ford F-250. The vehicle will be used for repair and maintenance at the treatment facility.
  • The City of Warren in Warren County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $72,400 to purchase a new dump truck with a plow and spreader. 
  • The Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department in Warren County received a Community Facility Direct Loan and Grant of $191,500 to purchase a 2017 ambulance with powered load system and cot. The new ambulance also has 4-wheel drive for winter weather. 
  • The New Bethlehem Fireman’s Company No. 1 in Clarion County received a Community Facilities Grant of $39,000 to purchase and install a new high-efficiency boiler heating system and a Kohler Generator with sound-proof and weather-proof enclosure for the fire department building.
  • The New Bethlehem Borough in Clarion County received a Community Facilities Grant of $67,100 to purchase a new dump truck equipped for snow plowing, snow removal and salt spreading of the borough roads. 
  • Hickory Township in Forest County received a Community Facilities Grant of $34,300 to purchase a new Kubato tractor with accessories to perform road maintenance. 
  • Manor Township in Armstrong County received a Community Facilities Grant of $26,300 to purchase a new police vehicle with accessories for the township’s police department. 
  • Tarentum Borough in Allegheny County received an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $33,700 to purchase a new Ford SUV Interceptor for its police department. 

USDA announced community facility project investments in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Guam yesterday. That announcement can be read here. 


###

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.