Venture helps pave the way for energy sector growth impacting thousands of rural residents
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director David L. Hall today announced Belmont County’s Mead Township will receive a combined $440,000 Community Facilities loan and grant to upgrade its equipment fleet.
“Our partnership with the people of Belmont County spans many years, and is particularly significant given the anticipated growth of the energy sector in the region,” said Hall. “At Rural Development, we like to say we ‘build communities from the ground up.’ This foundational infrastructure investment is designed to help Mead Township trustees do exactly that.
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Ohio in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Funds will be used to purchase three new dump trucks as part of a larger investment of resources designed to redevelop the former R.E. Burger coal-fired electric plant in Shadyside for industrial use compatible with the expanding energy market. The loan and grant also will allow trustees to better leverage other funds to meet critical needs within the township.
Situated atop the valuable Marcellus and Utica shale formations, the site is being readied in anticipation of supporting a world-scale petrochemical (ethane “cracker”) complex planned for Dilles Bottom, about five miles south of R.E. Burger. Once finalized, the cracker plant has the potential to bring thousands of construction and skilled-labor jobs to the region, impacting not only Ohio, but also Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.