Press Releases

Monroe County, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the Rural Development arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $36,146 Rural Business Development Grant to West End Pantry Inc.

The Rural Development investment will be used to purchase equipment that will assist in the collection and distribution of food for the West End Pantry. Equipment purchased will include pallet jacks, hand trucks, tables, and other equipment. The pantry serves communities in Monroe and Carbon Counties.

“Rural communities need a government on their side when it comes to folks making hard decisions, such as having to choose between medicine and groceries, or heating oil and groceries, said Rep. Cartwright a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “I support maintaining these federal programs that help ease these difficult decision for the residents of Northeastern Pennsylvanians.”

USDA Rural Business Development Grants provide funding for targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas which will employ 50 or fewer new employees and has less than $1 million in gross revenue. Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or opportunity type grant activities.