Dole Visits Grifton

LITTLEFIELD — Thursday was a big day for Grifton, as citizens and townspeople celebrated $695,100.00 in grants from the USDA for rural development.

United States Senator Elizabeth Dole, along with several other distinguished guests, made the day even more exciting as they helped celebrate the completion of several community facility projects for the Town of Grifton and the Grifton Community Fire Department.

“These grants really represent community development and infrastructure,” Dole said. “The brave men and women who do this job have to have the equipment. These grants will help them do that job. I certainly want to do everything in my power to help the rural communities.”

USDA Rural Development State Director John Cooper, was also present at the celebrations Thursday and placed emphasis on the hard work Grifton Town Administrator Michael Peoples had done to get the grants for the town.

“It’s people like you that make this come together,” Cooper said of Peoples.

Representative Marian McLawhorn also spoke at the celebration, thanking those that had helped Grifton receive money for improvements to the town. McLawhorn is a Grifton resident.

“Thanks for bringing some money to the town of Grifton,” McLawhorn said. “We really needed it.”

Grifton Fire Chief Ed Meeks, who during the ceremony was labeled a “grant-writing man,” said he and Peoples worked together on getting the grants and were a good team. Meeks also expressed his appreciation for all those that were able to come out and show support for the town.

“When I see a grant, I pursue it,” Meeks said. “It’s not only me, we have help. Me and Michael worked pretty good together.”

Meeks said the fire department was not big enough to hold some of the larger fire trucks and the trucks were a tight fit when parked inside.

Meeks said now, the new trucks will fit nicely inside the new building, which was built with the grant money. Meeks also expressed the department’s desire to try and serve the needs of the town better by having better equipment.

“We’ve come a long way,” Meeks said. “We’re trying to move where we need to be.”

Funds in the amount of $490,400 for the Fire Department were used to purchase a new fire equipment truck and construction of a fire equipment storage building.

Funds for the Town Hall for $204,700 were used for Town Hall renovations, a parking lot, and the addition to the Police Station.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents.

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