Keedysville, MD October 3, 2005 – Today at the Keedysville Town Hall, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett and USDA Rural Development State Director Marlene Elliott announced over $4 million in loan and grant funding that has supported rural Washington County since the beginning of the federal fiscal year (October 1, 2004 – September 30, 2005). Congressman Roscoe Bartlett said, "In the past year, USDA’s Rural Development Program has provided $4.8 million in federal funding for projects in Washington County that will leverage local government and private sector funding to improve the infrastructure in Keedysville and support rural homeownership. That will strengthen the community, help attract more jobs and make Washington County an even better place to live and work."

"This federal investment of Department of Agriculture funds is important to on-going economic development efforts throughout Western Maryland," said Senator Paul S. Sarbanes. "These projects are helping to improve the quality of life for the residents of Washington County through increased home improvements and ownership opportunities, as well as enhancements and upgrades to its public infrastructure systems."

"This funding is a federal investment in Western Maryland communities today and tomorrow," said Senator Barbara A. Mikulski. "I’m so proud that Washington County will be able to use these funds to continue to develop and grow."

The funding provided has been in the area of rural homeownership, home repair, rental housing, and utilities to help improve a public water system. The Town of Keedysville was selected for the County wide announcement that highlighted a $1,922,200 loan that the Town is receiving to help them replace their aged water distribution system that was installed in 1950. As a result of leakage tests, it has been estimated that the current water system is losing 20,000 gallons of treated water every day. With the support of USDA funds, new water lines, pump station, and water storage tank will be installed that will help provide for a dependable water supply and pressure that is needed for adequate fire protection.

"Our purpose at USDA Rural Development is to serve rural America and that means helping rural communities and rural residents with their most pressing needs," said Elliott. "One of the biggest challenges facing small towns is the cost to operate and maintain public water and wastewater systems. Through numerous agency name changes, this year marks the 70^th anniversary of the creation of our agency, and today, our utility programs continue to furnish more capital to rural water and waste disposal systems than any other single source."

Altogether, the federal assistance represents more than $800,000 in grant funds and $4 million in loan funds that have supported three projects throughout the County and has helped over 40 individuals or families with a place to call home.

In addition to the Town of Keedysville, the $4.8 million in funding helped the following:

$30,963 to the Washington County Community Action Council to help lower income homeowners eliminate health and safety hazards and make repairs to their homes.

$285,462 to Interfaith Housing Alliance in Frederick, MD to help an estimated 10 families in Washington County build their own homes through USDA Rural Development’s self-help housing program.

$2,108,299 to support rural homeownership.

$491,520 in rental assistance for 32 apartment units that are designed for the elderly.

Rural Development’s motto - "Committed to the future of rural communities," is well defined in rural Western Maryland. The funding announced represents only some of the programs the agency is called to deliver. In addition to programs that support community infrastructure and rural homeownership they also have programs that support business development, essential community facilities and agriculture. Their mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Additional information on rural programs is available by calling their Mountain Lake Park office at (301) 334-6950 or their State Office that serves Maryland and Delaware at (302) 857-3580 or visiting their web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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