NEWS RELEASE

Kent County receives over $1 million for Little Heaven community

Little Heaven, DE August 31, 2005 – Federal funds are on the way to help fix failing septic systems in the Little Heaven area.  A small residential community known as “Baker’s Choice”, located off of Bowers Beach Road near Rt. 1, is set to tie into the County’s sewer system with the help of a USDA Rural Development program according to U.S. Congressman Michael Castle.  “There are older septic systems in Baker’s Choice that are beginning to fail or are already causing problems.  We simply cannot afford to have failing septic systems jeopardize the groundwater supplies and the health of the citizens who live here.  This $759,000 federal grant will provide much needed assistance.  By becoming part of the county’s sewer system, this community is also part of a larger effort to protect the state’s vital waterways, in particular, the Murderkill Watershed,” Castle said. 

Rural Development will provide a 40-year low interest loan in the amount of $254,000 and a $759,000 grant to Kent County that will help extend the County’s sewer system approximately ¼ mile to serve 79 homes in the Baker’s Choice subdivision.  Residents in the Baker’s Choice community have never had central water or sewer and are currently served by individual septic systems and wells.  A majority of the of the septic systems are 50 years old and are starting to fail causing a concern that wastewater discharge could slowly seep into the ground water supply.  “Providing infrastructure improvements in rural areas is one of the most costly projects that County Government’s are faced with,” said Marlene Elliott, USDA Rural Development State Director.  “$759,000 towards this project is a return of federal taxpayer funds that never has to be repaid which will help keep the cost of using the sewer system affordable for the individual homeowners.”   The County has begun the process of selecting an Engineer to design the wastewater system and expect the project to be fully designed and out to bid sometime next spring.                                          

Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, USDA Rural Development has returned over $34 million to rural Delaware to support community water and wastewater systems that are serving over 21,500 homes and businesses.  Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at the State Office by calling (302) 857-3580, or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

“USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.”

To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,

 Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).