Major renovations are coming to the police and fire department in Williamston. The Martin County town of 5,500 residents was recently approved for a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan aimed at helping rural communities.
Williamston will receive a $1,996,200 loan to purchase and renovate a larger building to house the police station. The new facility will replace the existing 78-year-old building the department has outgrown. According to a news release, the renovated facility will include offices, evidence storage ageas, an armory room, a holding cell, a sally port, interrogation and viewing areas, training space, and a conference room. The town was approved for an additional $1,633,550 loan to expand the fire station. Renovations include adding a work room, storage, an apparatus bay, an equipment bay, a larger meeting and training room, office space, and kitchen upgrades.
The USDA announced funding for other projects in Eastern North Carolina on Monday. The town of Plymouth will receive a $942,000 loan to renovate sidewalks and improve pedestrian access in the downtown area. The town of Princeton will receive a $424,000 loan and a $150,000 grant to renovate the town’s community center. Part of the building will become the Princeton Public Library.
Funding for the improvements is provided by the USDA’s Community Facilities Direct Loan program, which invests in infrastructure improvement projects in rural communities across the country. The $139 million investment announced on Monday includes a total of 56 projects in 23 states.
