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

 

 

Contact:

Kathy Beisner (302) 943-3818

  

USDA Recognizes Worcester Prep Student

                                                                                           

            BERLIN, MD, June 28, 2010 – USDA Rural Development State Director Jack Tarburton today joined officials from the Town of Berlin to recognize Jamie Welch, a resident of Ocean Pines and a student at Worcester Preparatory School.

                                                                                                            

“On behalf of President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, I am pleased to present Jamie a plaque representing our appreciation for serving as a cub reporter for the Berlin Wastewater Treatment Plant project,” said Tarburton.  “Jamie’s reports have been outstanding, written well and have allowed the citizens of America to follow Berlin’s progress to ensure transparency and accountability.”

 

In October 2009, USDA Rural Development highlighted $11.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds that are helping to upgrade the Berlin wastewater treatment system.   President Obama signed The Recovery Act into law on February 17, 2009.  It is designed to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. 

 

As part of the President’s commitment to ensure public funds are expended responsibly and in a transparent manner, USDA Rural Development has recruited volunteer cub reporters to report on community projects funded by USDA Rural Development. Tarburton said, “From it’s [a projects] infancy to completion, the cub reporter will be the community’s eyes and ears to ensure transparency and accountability.”

 

Jamie started his work as a cub reporter as an 8th grader during the 2009-2010 school year.  He was the first one recruited by USDA for a Recovery Act project in Maryland.  As a Recovery Act cub reporter, students learn about important community projects, meet local community leaders and business people, and increase knowledge of government.  Students gain journalism and networking experience.  Working with a teacher or counselor, the student may gain credit for community service.

 

To view Jamie’s blogs, visit www.usda.gov/blog/usda/ and search for his June 16, 2010 report and March 18, 2010 report.  To learn more about becoming a cub reporter for a Rural Development project, contact Kathy Beisner, Public Information Coordinator at (302) 857-3582.

 

             USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure, and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in the nation’s capital and 500 state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $138 billion in loans and loan guarantees.   Last year in rural Maryland, USDA Rural Development returned more than $421 million to help improve the quality of life and increase economic opportunity in rural Maryland.  For more information, contact the USDA Rural Development State Office serving Delaware and Maryland at (302) 857-3580.

 

 

 

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