WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $669,200 in federal funding to improve community facilities and purchase equipment in rural communities across Virginia. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development division’s Community Facilities Direct Loans & Grant Program and Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grant Program.

“We’re glad these funds will help improve essential services and strengthen public safety in rural communities across the Commonwealth,” said the senators. “We look forward to seeing Virginians benefit from these resources and will continue to do all that we can to ensure that the needs of our rural communities are being met.”

The Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program provides funding to purchase, construct, or improve essential community facilities and purchase equipment in rural areas. A breakdown of the funding is available below:

• Amelia County will receive $375,000 to rehabilitate the clerk’s office, which is approximately 100 years old, and improve safety in the historic Amelia County courts building, which serves over 12,000 Virginians.
• The Lee County Public Service Authority will receive $50,000 to purchase a sewer jetter to clear drain pipe obstructions in the waste system serving more than 25,000 residents and $50,000 to purchase a skid steer to complete earth-moving projects such as excavating, digging, and trenching in small spaces.
• Dayton will receive $50,000 to purchase a law enforcement vehicle and a public works service truck.
• Onancock will receive $40,600 and a loan of $75,600 to purchase a law enforcement vehicle and a public works truck. The current law enforcement vehicle has high mileage and requires costly repairs. The public works truck will replace a 12-year-old vehicle that no longer meets the needs of the town.

The Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grant Program helps low-income communities plan and develop applications for proposed USDA Rural Development water or waste disposal projects. The Greensville County Water and Sewer Authority will receive $28,000 to prepare preliminary engineering and environmental reports to address needed improvements to the Three Creek and Falling Run wastewater treatment plants.

Warner and Kaine have long supported rural communities across Virginia. Last year, the senators announced over $700,000 in federal funding to boost economic development in Southwest Virginia. They’ve also announced $5 million in federal funding to expand broadband access in rural and underserved areas.

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