USDA Rural Development Announces Over $2.2 Million Investment in Community Infrastructure to Benefit Mount Bethel and Tamaqua

This Investment Provides Critical Community Infrastructure for 13,849 Residents

(Harrisburg, Pa., May 29, 2026) - U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Pennsylvania Acting State Director Jeremy Wilson has announced an investment of $2.2 million for community projects in Pennsylvania. Mount Bethel Volunteer Fire Department will receive $247,500 for improvements and construction of an emergency shelter and Carbon Schuylkill Hospital, Dba St. Luke's Miners Campus, will receive a total of $2 million to construct the Temple Rural Dental College in Tamaqua Borough.

"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," said Wilson.

The USDA Rural Development investment of $247,500 in the Mount Bethel Volunteer Fire Department will fund the construction of a 2,500-foot emergency shelter. This will include an American with Disabilities Act compliant bathrooms and showers, a new HVAC system, a nursing room for mothers, and equipment and supplies for the shelter. The emergency shelter will benefit the 6,933 residents of Upper Mount Bethel and Portland Borough.

The USDA Rural Development investment of $2 million will provide funding for construction of the Temple Rural Dental College in Tamaqua Borough, in Carbon County Pennsylvania. Construction will consist of extensive renovations to an existing building to provide space for teaching classrooms for the incoming dental students, administrative offices, and shared student workspaces. This one-of-a-kind investment will provide access to dental care in the rural area of Tamaqua Borough and the surrounding communities in Carbon County. This project is expected to benefit 6,916 people.

Both projects are funded through USDA Rural Development Community Facilities grants. USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities Programs offer direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. These investments strengthen critical community infrastructure, enhance quality of life, and help rural towns attract and retain businesses and services. To learn more about these programs, contact 717-237-2199.

For more information on USDA Rural Development investments in rural America, visit the Rural Data Gateway . The Rural Data Gateway is an online tool that strengthens USDA Rural Development partnerships with rural people, entrepreneurs, government officials and Congress by making investment data accessible to the public.

Learn more online at www.rd.usda.gov , subscribe to GovDelivery updates , and follow us on X at RD_Pennsylvania .

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