FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Sept. 19, 2005 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner today announced over $53 million in loans and grants for construction of new buildings, building repairs and purchases, equipment purchases for first responders and disaster recovery projects in North Carolina stemming from the 2004 hurricane season.

"The Bush Administration believes that a strong infrastructure gives first responders and state and local officials the tools they need to provide critical services, especially in times of emergency," said Conner. "The funds awarded today will help first responders in North Carolina to serve their communities in times of crisis."

Four grants, totaling $329,600 will go to the Town of Canton to repair a library, fire station, combined armory and senior center building and a combined town hall and police department. All four buildings sustained water damage from Hurricanes Francis and Ivan in 2004. The Eastover Volunteer Fire Department and Town of Dublin will receive loans to purchase fire and rescue trucks.

The Town of Shallotte will receive a $495,000 Community Facilities loan to construct a new fire station; Hyde County will receive a combined $3.4 million in loan and grant funds to construct a new courthouse. A $7 million loan will provide for the construction of a new elementary school in Sampson County, and the East Wake First Charter School in Zebulon will receive a loan of $1.8 million to purchase and renovate a building located next to the current school to provide additional classroom space. Additionally, Mars Hill College will receive two loans, totaling almost $13 million to build a math and science center and to renovate a science building. Also, Pasquotank County will borrow $12 million to construct a new 200 bed detention facility. Stanley County will borrow $1.5 million for a new detention center and Clayton will borrow $5 million to build a new community center. A complete list of the grants and loans is available on the USDA web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.

The USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Program provides loans and grants to construct or improve facilities for health care, public safety and public services. It also provides funds for equipment purchases and to improve the quality of life in rural America.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development has invested over $54 billion since the beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. As a result, over one million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.