Sen. Brown announces new resources to expand agriculture, food science program at Wilmington College
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has announced new resources to expand the agriculture and food science program at Wilmington College.
Brown urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to approve a loan that would update and expand the facility while advancing the current curriculum to emphasize entrepreneurship and job creation in the region.
The agriculture program has the largest enrollment at Wilmington College and is growing annually—increasing by 54 percent between 2009 and 2012.
“This expansion project will bring construction jobs to Clinton County now and advance education in agriculture business, agronomy, animal science, and other areas essential for Ohio agriculture to flourish in the future” Brown said. “Agriculture is an integral part of our state’s economy. By expanding the agriculture and food sciences programs at Wilmington College, we can create jobs and boost rural development in Clinton County and throughout the state.”
USDA is awarding a $19.7 million, 30-year loan through the Community Facilities program. The loan will finance the improvement of and addition to Kettering Hall, which houses the agriculture and food science program.
The project includes renovation of 35,000 square feet of existing space and construction of a 13,500 square foot addition. The new space will feature state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories in an LEED certified and ADA-compliant environment. In addition to expanding academic opportunities, the new facility will serve as a community hub for conferences, workshops, and science programming for all community members.
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Brown announces resources to bolster
firefighter safety in Adams County
New federal resources have been awarded to a fire department in Adams County. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department in Cherry Fork has been awarded resources for operations and safety by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program.
“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day across Ohio,” said Brown. “These funds ensure that firefighters in Cherry Fork have the resources they need to perform their jobs safely.”
This is round 20 of the competitive Fiscal Year 2012 AFG announcements. The Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $63,020.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program helps firefighters and other first responders purchase protective equipment, vehicles, and gear, according to FEMA.