Press Releases

Schuylkill County, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $118,400 in Economic Impact Initiative and Community Facilities Grants in Schuylkill County. These grant and loan programs fall within the scope of USDA Rural Development, which is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America.

The USDA Economic Impact Initiative Grant program provides funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural communities that qualify for economic development assistance. The Community Facilities Programs offers direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. The grant funds will be distributed as followed:  

· Shenandoah Valley School District $50,000

· Coaldale Borough $ 31,400

· St. Joseph Center for Special Learning $16,500

· Mahanoy Township $13,700

· West Mahanoy Township $6,800

“Targeted federal funding programs, like those managed through USDA Rural Development, go a long way toward helping small communities and their surrounding areas,” Rep. Cartwright said.  “These programs to ensure our small towns do not get left out or left behind.”

USDA Rural Development offers a broad portfolio of programs to improve the lives of rural Americans. They provide loans, grants and loan guarantees for housing, health care, first responder services and equipment, and water, electric and communications infrastructure. They promote economic development through loans to businesses through banks, credit unions and community-managed lending pools. And they offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives. They provide technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs, and they help rural residents buy or rent safe, affordable housing as well as make health and safety repairs to their homes.