Sussex County communities awarded more than $5 million from USDA

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, Delaware’s Congressional Delegation announced that almost $5.3 million in federal grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture were awarded to various communities in Sussex County, Delaware. Delmar, Georgetown, and Lewes will all receive assistance from the USDA’s Rural Development, Community Facilities grant program. 

“Delaware’s communities have benefitted greatly from the USDA’s Rural Development’s Community Facilities grants, which aim to help our small towns provide essential services to its residents,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “From patrol cars for police departments, to energy efficiency upgrades for town buildings, these grants are important taxpayer investments that help our smaller communities meet their needs.”

“This is great news for some of the quickly growing towns in Sussex County,” said Sen. Coons. “As communities grow, so do the needs of the residents. We are thankful to USDA Rural Development for these invaluable loans and grants. I am confident that they will be put to good use to ensure greater public safety and much needed support for mental health services downstate.”

“Sussex is the fasting growing county in Delaware, which requires that communities across the county have resources to upgrade and expand the services they provide to their residents,” said Congressman Carney. “These Rural Development grants will make a major difference in addressing those needs and improving the lives of Delawareans throughout Sussex County.” 

The projects awarded funding include:

• The Town of Delmar was awarded $50,000 to purchase portable/mobile radios and to upgrade existing radios for its Police Department. The radios will enable Delmar officers to better communicate with the State Police and State Emergency Communications systems in both Delaware and Maryland.

• Connections Community Support Program received a $5.05 million loan to establish a Withdrawal Management Center serving Kent and Sussex Counties. The loan allows Connections to purchase an existing facility and upgrade the services provided to include medical, substance abuse, and psychiatric treatment.

• Georgetown Fire Company was awarded $25,000 to purchase portable radios for its volunteer firefighters. The grant will enable to company to purchase enough radios for all firefighters to communicate in an emergency.

• The Lewes Public Library was awarded $50,000 to furnish the library.

In a separate announcement from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market was awarded a $99,229.99 grant.  These funds will be used to expand access to produce from local farms and to pinpoint best practices that will help improve farmers markets across the United States.  

USDA Rural Development grants can be used to fund projects that bring housing, community facilities, business guarantees, utilities and other services to rural America. USDA provides technical assistance and financial backing for rural businesses and cooperatives to create quality jobs in rural areas. Rural Development works with low-income individuals, state, local and Indian tribal governments, as well as private and nonprofit organizations and user-owned cooperatives.