List meets USDA Rural Development requirements

Christmas is almost a year away but Pike County has already sent its wish list to Santa

Claus.

For the governmental entities and other agencies in the county, Santa doesn't wear a red suit, rather the hat of United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

The USDA Rural Development Community Development Team was in Pike County in November to present an overview of the grant and loan programs available through USDA Rural Development and to compile a wish list from the county.

Steve D. Pelham, USDA Rural Development state director, said the community development team has completed its first rounds of meetings. The Community Development Team has planned 67 meetings throughout the state. Seventeen of the 67 were completed in the first round.

Pelham outlined seven needs identified during the Pike County tour that were deemed eligible under agency programs.

Industrial park property for Troy and Brundidge is an eligible purpose under the Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program for both feasibility study and site development if "small and emerging business that would benefit can be identified.

Water line improvements for Goshen and the Pike County Water Authority are eligible through Rural Utilities Service.

Pelham said Goshen and the Pike County Water Authority need to decide which has jurisdiction and that party apply.

A facility to house both the Meeksville Volunteer Fire Department is eligible under Rural Development's Community Facility Program.

An application from the Airport Authority is needed to apply for improvements to the Troy Airport. The improvements are an eligible purpose under the community facility loan/grant program as is the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center.

The Pike County Cattlemen's Foundation need is for a 160-stall facility to house stock at Cattleman Park and is also eligible under the community facility loan/grant program.

The renovation of the former city hall building in Brundidge is an eligible project under the community facility program.

Entities

may file applications for eligible purposes through the USDA area office in Dothan, Pelham said.