(Columbus, Ohio, April 10, 2026) – U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Ohio State Director Charles Tassell has announced that Northwestern Joint Fire District will receive a $4 million Community Facilities loan to expand their fire station.
“The Trump Administration and Rural Development are proud to support our rural first responders,” said Tassell. “Union County is growing rapidly, and this modern fire station will allow Northwestern Joint Fire District to match that growth and continue providing life-saving services for our citizens.”
Northwestern Joint Fire District provides Fire and Emergency Medical Services for the following townships in Union County: Leesburg, Liberty, Taylor and York. This Rural Development investment will fund a 6,005-square-foot expansion of its current fire station. The expansion will feature a training room and barracks for staff, a radio room to assist with multi-township communication efforts and office space to assist in the administration of the district. These improvements will ensure that the first responders of Northwestern Joint Fire District have the necessary infrastructure to protect the community.
USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Programs offer direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. These investments strengthen critical community infrastructure, enhance quality of life, and help rural towns attract and retain businesses and services. To learn more about these programs, contact USDA Rural Development Ohio Community Programs Director Charles Dietz at charles.dietz@usda.gov.
For more information on USDA Rural Development investments in rural America, visit the Rural Data Gateway. The Rural Data Gateway is an online tool that strengthens USDA Rural Development partnerships with our citizens, entrepreneurs, and government officials by making investment data transparent and accessible to the public.
Learn more online at www.rd.usda.gov/oh, subscribe to GovDelivery updates, and follow us on X at @ohio_rd.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.