BESSEMER CITY, N.C., August 11, 2023 – USDA Rural Development State Director Reginald Speight with federal and state representatives participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Stinger Park today.
Rural Development invested a $7.9 million Community Facilities Loan investment to purchase and develop Stinger Park to be used by Bessemer City.
“During the lockdown we saw ourselves drawn back to parks, like Singer, to have a place where we could just be outside and enjoy the simple joys of nature, get some exercise and get some fresh air,” said Speight. “Now that the world is back open, we have a place where we can come together, and enjoy activities in groups or individually. This park will have something for everyone. The Biden-Harris administration knows the importance of helping rural communities grow outdoor recreation, and we are seeing it here today.”
The park contains:
- Trails
- Playgrounds
- Splash pad
- Concessions and restroom buildings
- Athletic courts and fields
- Facility maintenance building
The park will improve the quality of life in the rural community served by Bessemer City.
The objective of the USDA Rural Development Community Facility Loans and Grants Program is to provide affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.
Background
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lenders