Contact: Kathy Beisner (302) 697-4333

FEATURE STORY

ELKTON, March 1, 2002 – USDA is more than farming! That’s what Joyce Cecil of North East found out when she called the local USDA Rural Development office in Elkton. Mrs. Cecil has been wheel chair bound for approximately four years due to severe arthritis. One day relaxing at home enjoying her local paper, she read an article about a USDA Home Repair Program that she thought might assist her with improvements to her 31-year old home.

With the help of the local Rural Development staff, Mrs. Cecil received a $20,000 loan at 1% interest to make her home more energy efficient and handicap accessible. Mrs. Cecil in a jovial voice refers to her new handicap ramp as "Joyce’s Boardwalk". In addition to the ramp, her bathroom was made handicap accessible including the addition of a handicap shower. The additions have brought a whole new sense of freedom to her life. Many other improvements were made to her home that included a new heating system, new windows, an electrical upgrade, new flooring, doors and smoke detectors.

Although many people associate USDA with farm and food safety programs, many are not aware that USDA has a wide array of loan and grant programs designed to help individuals with home ownership, home repair, and business ventures. To learn more about USDA Rural Development and their programs, visit them at www.rurdev.usda.gov/md or call the Local Office at (410) 398-4411, ext. 4. TTY calls may be made at (302) 697-4303.

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Front view of Mrs. Cecil’s home.