By Marlene B. Elliott, USDA Rural Development State Director for Delaware and Maryland
Protecting Rural Families
Small towns and rural areas embody the spirit of American values like family, work, community, and freedom. And, when we think of the rural places that we call home there is a natural feeling of safety.
Helping to ensure that rural America remains a safe place to live, work and raise a family is part of what we are called to do at USDA Rural Development. Through the assistance of Rural Development’s programs, emergency and other vital services are being enhanced for more communities.
Over the past four months, we have supported eight projects in rural Delaware and rural Maryland that have provided firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel with the facilities and equipment that they need to protect property, uphold the law and save lives. Seven of the eight projects supported were in the form of grants. Altogether, it represents a return of $678,045 of the people’s money to small towns like Harrington, Del.; Pocomoke City, Md., and Delmar, Del.
More specifically your taxpayer dollars have helped support police vehicles and equipment in Clayton, Del.; Delmar, Del.; Harrington, Del., and Snow Hill, Md. Renovation of a former 5 & 10 store that will become the police department in Federalsburg, Md.; a generator for the Princess Anne, MD Volunteer Fire Department; and a rescue vehicle for the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Department located in Lonaconing, Md.
Last year in the bi-state area, Rural Development’s investment in First Responder projects totaled $662,660. We are pleased that this year’s investment to date in public safety has increased by 2%.
Through all of Rural Development’s programs, we can help meet the challenges facing rural America today, tomorrow and beyond. We have over 40 loan and grant programs that are aimed at improving the quality of life and increasing economic opportunity in rural communities. Our mission is as broad as rural America itself. Every community is unique; needs, opportunities, and challenges differ. In one community, the priority may be affordable housing; in another, broadband access or a new water line. The project at hand may be an industrial park, an ethanol plant or a main street business in a small town. It may be the construction of a rural hospital, a childcare center or a nursing home, or the purchase of a new fire truck.
USDA Rural Development is ready to help. If you know someone that serves on your local fire and rescue squad or is a member of the town council, let them know that USDA Rural Development has a program to help them meet their most pressing needs.
For additional information, contact one of our offices nearest you: Dover, Del. call 302-857-3580; Georgetown, Del. call 302-856-3990, ext. 5; Denton, Md. Call 410-479-1202, ext. 5; and Prince Frederick, Md. 410-535-1521, ext. 5. You can also visit our website at www.rurdev.usda.gov or feel free to email me at marlene.elliott@de.usda.gov