PHOTO RELEASE: Rep. McBride Highlights Federal Investment to Support Affordable Housing Development in Western Sussex County

LAUREL, Del. - Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) highlighted $250,000 in federal funding she secured to support the installation of a new sewer lift station serving the Laurel Glen multi-family housing project. The infrastructure investment will expand housing opportunities for Delaware families by advancing affordable housing development in western Sussex County. Photos from the event can be found here.

"Housing affordability remains one of the biggest challenges facing Delaware families," said Rep. McBride. "If we want people to be able to afford to live in the communities they serve, we need to build more housing and invest in the infrastructure that supports it. This funding will help lay the groundwork for new affordable homes in western Sussex County while strengthening the infrastructure families and communities rely on every day. I'm proud to have secured this investment and to partner with local leaders to help make Delaware a more affordable place to call home."

The federal funding secured by Rep. McBride will support construction of a new sewer lift station serving the Laurel Glen development, a planned 36-unit workforce housing project. The lift station will provide the wastewater capacity needed to support future residents, removing an infrastructure barrier that has prevented development at the site.

The Laurel Glen housing development project is led by NeighborGood Partners, a nonprofit affordable housing developer focused on expanding access to affordable housing across Delaware. Through projects like Laurel Glen, NeighborGood Partners is working to address the urgent housing shortage in Sussex County, where a vacancy rate of just 1.1 percent and long waitlists have left many families struggling to find affordable housing.

In addition to housing, the Laurel Glen development will include a community space and resources - such as financial literacy and homeownership education programs - designed to support residents and create pathways to financial security. Construction on the development is slated to begin next year.

"We at NeighborGood Partners greatly appreciate Congresswoman McBride's support and request of an allocation of $250,000 in Community Project Funding to provide a sewer lift station at Laurel Glen Apartments, a 36-unit complex to be built to serve the area's workforce," said NeighborGood Partners CEO Karen Speakman. "As with many municipal sewer systems, lift stations are often necessary when gravity cannot work alone. We are extremely grateful for this much needed funding, which will come through USDA's Rural Development."

During the visit, McBride toured the project site alongside NeighborGood Partners leadership, local stakeholders, and project engineers. Participants discussed the need for more affordable housing across Sussex County and reviewed plans for the upcoming housing development in Laurel, Delaware.

Funding for the Laurel Glen project builds on Rep. McBride's broader efforts to secure federal investments that strengthen communities in Sussex County. From the restoration of the Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass system to the protection of home healthcare for seniors in Sussex County, Rep. McBride remains committed to building a future where every Delawarean can afford groceries, pay rent, live safely, and get ahead.

The Community Project Funding process is part of a year-long effort during which McBride's office reviewed applications for vital community projects across Delaware. Each Member of Congress was permitted to submit up to 15 requests to the House Committee on Appropriations for consideration. McBride secured funding for all 15 of her requests, totaling over $19 million, through the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations process.

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