Federal official checks fruit of funding
By MARY ANN GREIERArticle Photos
LISBON - United States Department of Agriculture officials witnessed the fruit of their funding Wednesday in Columbiana County, where the federal department has granted or loaned an estimated $50 million for projects or programs since 2001.
USDA Rural Development State Director Randall Hunt said it was "fun and rewarding to see the results of these investments."
Hunt began his day at the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County where he issued a check for $99,000 to a small business loan program run by the agency and recognized some individuals related to housing programs and the small business loan program.
He then traveled past the county Municipal Court building which used a USDA loan for construction of the fairly new facility and then south to the county Courthouse where a loan of more than $3.5 million funded the renovation of the courtrooms and offices on the second floor, the replacement of the roof and installation of a new heating and air conditioning system in the building. The commissioners were also able to borrow additional funds to replace all the windows in the courthouse.
Next on the agenda was a trip further south to visit Buckeye Water District facilities. USDA pledged $20 million in funding for the water supplier, with $6 million worth of grants and $14 million worth of loans for a new water treatment plant and pump station.
Over the years, a number of major projects in Columbiana County have benefitted from funding along with smaller home loan and business loan programs, including several water and sewer projects such as the Winona sewer system and the pending project for Glenmoor/LaCroft, and a current project for a new library building in Leetonia.
"Our funding can literally build communities from the ground up," USDA Rural Development Area Director John Miller said. "We put more money into Columbiana County than any other county in the state."
Hunt commented that one of the reasons Columbiana County has been so successful in acquiring USDA dollars is the fact that local officials recognize the needs and know how to access the resources to meet those needs. He said programs have to be driven at the local level and in Columbiana County "you have good local leadership."
Hunt said he's used to just seeing the mounds of paperwork, which he apologized for, and signing his name. Looking around one of the renovated courtrooms at the historic Courthouse, he said it was "nice to get out and see the finished product."
Common Pleas Court Judges C. Ashley Pike and David Tobin both spoke highly of the USDA, whom they invited along with other players in the project, including members of the architectural team from the 4M company and personnel from Brock Builders to tour the facility and visit. USDA presented plaques to the judges and a mug to Amy Ondrejko, the court administrator who helped oversee the project.
Pike quipped that when former Commissioner Dave Cranmer mentioned the United States Department of Agriculture as a possible funding source for renovations, it didn't sound logical to him at all. Tobin said they probably wouldn't have been able to do the project without help from USDA.
Besides seeing physical displays of success, Hunt heard some personal stories, including the story of Salem residents Patti and Richard Hannah, a Mississippi couple displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
With housing counseling from CAA and their realtor Hal Barcey of Seasons Realty of Salem, the Hannahs secured a no down payment, subsidized home mortgage through the USDA Rural Development 502 Homeownership Program to purchase a home in Salem, right in the neighborhood where Patti grew up and admired the home from across the street.
"The program was a Godsend," Patti said, adding she didn't know what they would have done without it.
The Hannahs lived in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi where Richard worked as a police officer and they had good credit. When Katrina hit, they were left with a concrete pad and tons of bills from utility companies which continued to charge them for services even though the power obviously wasn't working. Richard noted the cable company billed them $300 for a cable box that was out in the Gulf of Mexico.
Barcey said they ended up with 18 items on their credit report due to utility companies continuing to bill them for services and charging them for damaged equipment.
USDA took everything into consideration and proved helpful in resolving the credit issues, working with the Hannahs to get them into a home.
Hunt presented them with a flag for the home. He also presented a plaque to Edward and Walter Gough of Home Mortgage Co. of Boardman for their work with USDA.
Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net
