U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) program has approved a $100,000 grant for Letcher County Fiscal Court to purchase a fire pumper truck.  This truck will be used to provide adequate fire protection services for the 25,277 citizens of Whitesburg and rural Letcher County.

“Protecting our local communities by adequately equipping them for possible emergencies is of utmost importance,” said Rogers.  “I continue to be impressed by the valuable partnerships forged between the USDA and the rural communities in our region of southern and eastern Kentucky, and this federal investment by the USDA-RD will go a long way towards keeping our families safe and giving our local firefighters the tools they need to promptly put out fires in Letcher County.”

The USDA-RD community facilities grant program assists small towns and rural areas in equipping, improving, and constructing community facilities for health care, public safety and other public services.  Grants are awarded to municipalities, counties and non-profit corporations, and areas with low population and low income receive preference in the evaluation of grant applications.  

Rogers currently serves as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.  Through this role, Rogers supports important initiatives in the Fifth Congressional District.