HARRISBURG, PA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is directing more than $2.2 million to two rural Pennsylvania infrastructure projects aimed at expanding healthcare access and emergency preparedness, investments expected to serve nearly 14,000 residents in Carbon and Northampton counties.
The funding, awarded through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities program, includes $2 million for a new dental education facility in Tamaqua and $247,500 for an emergency shelter project in Upper Mount Bethel.
The largest award will support construction of the Temple Rural Dental College in Tamaqua Borough, where an existing building will be renovated into classrooms, administrative offices, and student workspaces for future dental students.
Federal officials said the project is intended to increase access to dental care in Tamaqua and surrounding rural communities by expanding the pipeline of dental professionals trained in underserved areas. The project is expected to benefit approximately 6,916 residents.
A separate grant will fund construction of a 2,500-square-foot emergency shelter at the Mount Bethel Volunteer Fire Department.
The facility will include Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bathrooms and showers, a new HVAC system, a nursing room for mothers, and emergency shelter equipment and supplies. The project is expected to serve approximately 6,933 residents in Upper Mount Bethel Township and Portland Borough.
The awards come as federal and state officials continue to focus on healthcare workforce shortages and emergency preparedness challenges in rural communities, where access to medical services and disaster-response infrastructure can be more limited than in urban areas.
According to USDA Rural Development, both projects are funded through Community Facilities grants, which support the development and improvement of essential public services and infrastructure in rural areas.
Jeremy Wilson, acting state director for USDA Rural Development in Pennsylvania, said the investments are intended to address public safety and healthcare needs in rural communities.
“From emergency shelters to educating the next generation of rural dentists, Rural Development ensures Pennsylvanians receive the funding they need to innovate solutions for safety and healthcare,” Wilson said.
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