Sussex County communities awarded more than $5 million from USDA
One local Delaware county is going to benefit greatly from Rural Development grants, that will reportedly help fund wide variety of improvements.
On Wednesday, Delaware’s Congressional Delegation announced that almost $5.3 million in federal grants and loans were awarded to various communities in Sussex County, Delaware. The money is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Delmar, Georgetown, and Lewes will all receive assistance from the USDA’s Rural Development, Community Facilities grant program.
“Delaware’s communities have benefitted greatly from the USDA’s Rural Development’s Community Facilities grants, which aim to help our small towns provide essential services to its residents,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “From patrol cars for police departments, to energy efficiency upgrades for town buildings, these grants are important taxpayer investments that help our smaller communities meet their needs.”
“This is great news for some of the quickly growing towns in Sussex County,” said Sen. Coons. “As communities grow, so do the needs of the residents. We are thankful to USDA Rural Development for these invaluable loans and grants. I am confident that they will be put to good use to ensure greater public safety and much needed support for mental health services downstate.”
“Sussex is the fasting growing county in Delaware, which requires that communities across the county have resources to upgrade and expand the services they provide to their residents,” said Congressman Carney. “These Rural Development grants will make a major difference in addressing those needs and improving the lives of Delawareans throughout Sussex County.”
Projects included in the grants include, $50,000 for portable/mobile radios for the Delmar Police Department, $25,000 for radios for the Georgetown Fire Company, and $50,000 to furnish the Lewes Public Library.
The remaining $5.05 million is a loan for the Connections Community Support Program, to create a Withdrawal Management Center that will serve both Kent and Sussex Counties. The loan allows Connections to purchase an existing facility and upgrade the services provided to include medical, substance abuse, and psychiatric treatment.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service says they have also awarded the Historic Lewes Farmers Market a $99,229.99 grant, to expand access to produce from local farms, and to figure out best practices to help improve farmers markets across the United States.
