LoBiondo Announces Numerous Rural Development Funding Awards to South Jersey Communities

LoBiondo Announces Numerous Rural Development Funding Awards to South Jersey Communities
Nearly $3.4 million in Loans, Grants Awarded

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today announced a total of $3,389,000 in federal grants and loans to various communities and organizations in Southern New Jersey from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The funding will assist in improving water quality; developing and implementing of renewable energy technologies; and, the purchase of new emergency equipment.

"Rural development funding provides communities in South Jersey the opportunity to make critical improvements and upgrades to better services for their residents," said LoBiondo. "I am pleased that USDA has recognized the need, particularly in Egg Harbor City and Absecon, and granted them assistance."

The USDA awarded the following federal loans and grants:

· A loan of $2,300,000 and a grant of $650,000 to Egg Harbor City to extend and expand the current water system to the northern section of the city. The loan is to be repaid over 40 years at 4.375 percent. Previously, the Egg Harbor City was awarded a $2,420,800 loan and $1 million grant.

· A loan of $375,000 to the Absecon VFW Volunteer Ambulance Squad to assist in the purchase of two emergency service vehicles: an ambulance and a utility vehicle. The loan is to be repaid over 10 years at 4.375 percent.

· A grant of $64,000 to the Neptune Farm LLC in Salem, to assist in the development of renewable energy systems and making energy-efficient improvements to current operations. Neptune Farm will be installing photovoltaic array - or solar - cells to convert sunlight into electricity.

"The renewable energy grant awarded to Neptune Farm in Salem is the first Section 9006 grant awarded in New Jersey. We celebrate the action taken by Neptune Farm by showing the way on methods reducing our dependence on conventional energy sources. The produce grown and harvested in New Jersey has the highest quality and freshness," said Andrew Law, NJ State Director for USDA. "Grants such as this will assist in providing sustainable production agriculture into the future. We have a long way to go and this is the path we need to take to ensure future generations will enjoy the best our land has to offer the residents of New Jersey."

http://www.house.gov/list/press/nj02_lobiondo/050106.html