WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced a $5 million federal loan for renovations of the Seneca County Courthouse in Tiffin. Two weeks ago, Brown sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to reconsider the funding of high-priority community projects—including the Seneca County Courthouse—in small towns and rural areas across Ohio.
“Small towns are the heart of Ohio and are all too often overlooked for federal support. Today’s announcement, however, will save a vital community resource and a historical landmark in Seneca County. This critical $5 million loan for renovations of the Seneca County Courthouse will create jobs and provide vital services for residents of northwest Ohio,” Brown said. “I’m grateful to Secretary Vilsack for his responsiveness and concern for the citizens of Ohio, and most importantly for providing this loan in a timely way—with an affordable interest rate—that will help the county’s finances in the long run.”
A number of rural development projects in Ohio, including the Seneca County Courthouse, were initially supported by USDA at the state level but were subsequently told that the funding had been reallocated. In the letter to Secretary Vilsack, Brown urged USDA to review its budgets and use all possible means to find additional funding for critical projects.
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