WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced $4,039,000 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help the Five Points area of Mahoning County make needed updates to its waste water system. USDA also approved a $6,355,000 loan for Mahoning County.

“Investing in local water systems promotes the health of our communities and the creation and retention of jobs,” said Brown. “This grant will give Mahoning County the ability to complete long-needed upgrades to the Five Points community’s waste water infrastructure.” 

The funds were awarded to Mahoning County by the USDA Rural Development agency. Funds will support installation of a new waste water pump station in the Five Points area, replacing four existing pumps. This will help bring the area into compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Brown is the first Ohioan to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in more than 40 years. In 2014, he was part of the Senate Farm Bill Conference Committee that successfully negotiated a five-year farm bill that had been stalled for more than three years. Brown supported a strong Rural Development title in the 2014 Farm Bill to encourage economic development and increased infrastructure investment in rural communities. During consideration of the farm bill, Brown successfully offered an amendment included in the Farm Bill that will fund critical USDA Rural Development programs that help Ohio communities update wastewater and sewer infrastructure systems, provide access to capital for Ohio agricultural producers and small businesses, and provide technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers.

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