WASHINGTON D.C. – A Delaware County fire department will receive a federal loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to construct a new firehouse, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced today. The Elm Valley Joint Fire District, in Ashley, will receive a $1.7 million loan from USDA’s Rural Development branch.
“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day across Ohio. Access to updated firehouses is vital for small, rural fire departments such as the Elm Valley Joint Fire District,” Brown said. “This loan from the Agriculture Department will allow firefighters in Ashley to have the resources they need to perform their jobs safely.”
According to the USDA Rural Development branch, the loan will be used to purchase a new firehouse to replace the two outdated and inadequate buildings. The new firehouse will lower departmental operating costs and enable the Elm Valley Joint Fire Department in Ashley to provide enhanced service for area residents.
Brown is the first Ohioan in over 40 years to serve on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. He serves as the Chair of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth, and Energy Innovation.
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