RELEASE: Gottheimer, Local Sussex and Warren County Elected Officials, Business Leaders Host Roundtable with USDA to Help Boost Economic Development, Jobs in Northwestern Jersey

Gottheimer works with Northwestern Jersey towns, mayors to claw back USDA grant opportunities for businesses, farms, and families

NEWTON, NJ – On Wednesday, September 4, 2019, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), along with local elected officials and business leaders from throughout Warren and Sussex Counties, hosted a roundtable with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Rural Development to discuss how to best capitalize on federal USDA grant programs.  These investment opportunities will help boost Northwestern Jersey’s economic development, such as grants for home repairs for seniors, small business loans, for farms, and investments in rural broadband infrastructure.

New Jersey officials from the USDA, including New Jersey State Director Michael Thulen, Jr., Acting Business Programs Director Kenneth C. Drewes, Community Programs Director Christine M. Schmelzle, Housing Programs Director Donna L. O’Brien, Northeast Regional Coordinator Angela M. Callie, discussed key grant programs that can help create jobs and support economic development and essential services like infrastructure, housing, health care, first responder services.

“We are here to find new ways to work with the USDA, local farmers, families and businesses to help boost our local economy. It’s time we clawed back more of these grant dollars away from the Moocher States to help our communities,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “We have so much to offer. Working together, I’m confident about our economic future.”

Today’s roundtable was held at Sussex County Community College.