Contact: Kathy Beisner 302-697-4333

CAMDEN, May 8, 2002 – At the Maryland Rural Water Association’s annual meeting held last week, the "Louise V. Snodgrass Friends of Rural Water Award" was presented to Dover resident Denise MacLeish. Ms. MacLeish is employed with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the leading federal entity for addressing the needs of rural America.

"I am honored to be united with quality staff that does so much to improve the lives of rural citizens," said Marlene Elliott, Rural Development State Director. "The award bestowed to Denise comes at the onset of Public Service Recognition Week, a time to recognize employees and inform the public what services are provided by government."

The USDA Rural Development state office located in Camden, DE serves all of rural Delaware and Maryland. Rural Development’s mission is to improve the quality of life in rural areas through three primary service areas; rural housing, rural business and industry, and rural utilities. "Denise has 17-years of service with Rural Development helping rural towns and county governments obtain or improve water and sewer systems," said Elliott. "We are blessed to live in an area of the country that is abundant with outdoor activities such as swimming, camping and fishing, and it is through the programs offered by Rural Development and the work that Denise does that helps protect our rural environment."

So far this fiscal year, Rural Development has invested nearly $9.5 million in Maryland and over $3.8 million in Delaware to improve water and sewer systems in rural areas. The water and waste disposal programs offered by Rural Development have been in existence for over 60 years. Today, it furnishes more capital to rural water and waste disposal systems than any other single source. Further information on USDA Rural Development can be obtained by contacting the Rural Development state office at 302-697-4300 or visiting their website at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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