NEWS RELEASE

United States Department of Agriculture • Rural Development

1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE  19904

Phone: (302) 857-3580 • Fax: (302) 857-3640 • TDD: (302) 857-3585 • Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

CARROLL COUNTY PROJECTS RECEIVE USDA AID

          Taneytown, MD (September 30, 2008) – Congressman Roscoe Bartlett and USDA Rural Development State Director Marlene Elliott Brown announced $3,748,910 in loan and grant funds to help increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for the citizens of  Taneytown and for the visitors, staff, and students at Carroll Community College.

            The funding is for the City of Taneytown, in the amount of $3.7 million, for wastewater system improvements and a $48,910 grant to Carroll Community College to help with the purchase of an emergency communications system.

            Congressman Roscoe Bartlett said, “Ensuring safe and clean water infrastructure is a basic necessity to support our rural communities.  That is why I am very pleased that Taneytown will receive this $3.7 loan and grant package to upgrade the York Street Pump station.  The federal funding for the lower interest loan to Taneytown from USDA Rural Development came from the Farm Bill that I voted for earlier this year.  The $48,910 grant to Carroll Community College to install an emergency communications system will improve the college’s ability to contribute to the disaster preparedness and civil response capabilities of Carroll County.

The City of Taneytown is receiving funds that are part of the recently enacted farm bill, also known as the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, that is intended to reduce the backlog of pending rural water and wastewater projects across the country.   It is estimated that there is a $3 billion water and wastewater backlog across rural America.   $150,000 in loan and grant funding is from the farm bill, while an additional $3,550,000 loan is provided through USDA Rural Development’s annual budget.  The loan terms are 2.75% interest for 40 years.  The new lower interest rate was authorized in the farm bill.  Prior to the farm bill becoming law, the interest rate was 4.50%. It is estimated that the interest rate change is saving the City some $1.8 million.

Originally constructed in the mid-1950’s, the funding will help the City of Taneytown improve 1 of their 4 stations, the York Street Pump Station, that currently handles half of the total wastewater flows for the City.  An inflow and infiltration problem has added to an increased amount of influent that has exceeded the pump stations capacity causing an overflow of raw sewage being released into the natural environment.  Improvements to both water and sewer lines, to correct the inflow and infiltration problem, are being funded by the Maryland Department of the Environment.                                         

 “Many people think the farm bill is only for farmers, and do not realize that it is for everyone living in rural America,” said Elliott Brown.  “Everyone wants clean safe drinking water, unpolluted waters that provide for a sustainable environment, and a thriving economy.  USDA Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities and through that commitment we help protect the safety and health of our rural residents, our natural resources, and our environment.  Through a program referred to as the Rural Emergency Responders Initiative, we have an opportunity to assist Carroll Community College with enhanced security on campus.  It is a wonderful program that allows the U.S. Government to partner with rural communities to prepare for emergencies and the delivery of lifesaving services.” 

Carroll Community College is nearing the completion stages of installing an emergency communications system on campus that cost approximately $140,000.  In addition to the USDA grant, the College contributed $92,500 of their own funds to improve security by adding a “Code Blue” emergency parking lot call box system and a digital monitoring system that will boost public safety on campus.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents.  Last year, the agency returned more than $97 million to rural Maryland.  They have more than 40 programs that support agriculture, business opportunities, home ownership, home repair, rental housing, broadband technology, public safety, health care, education, social and cultural needs, and energy related projects.  Additional information on rural programs is available by calling their Hagerstown Office at (301) 797-0500, ext. 4 or by visiting their website at 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).