Millions in funding headed to Cape Region towns, organizations

More than 30 local organizations and municipalities are set to receive some of the $70 million in community redevelopment funding in the recently approved General Assembly Bond Bill. The funds are allocated for local legislators to be used in their districts.

The Nanticoke Indian Association is set to receive $1.35 million for restoration of its museum and community center near Oak Orchard.

The Town of Milton will receive $800,000 for capital improvement projects. Other area towns on the list include: City of Lewes, $85,000 for landscaping and street projects; Rehoboth Beach, $25,000 for the State Road project; Dewey Beach, $50,000 for the Dagsworthy Avenue paving project; Ellendale, $48,000 for traffic control units; and Henlopen Acres, $40,000 for drainage work.

Lewes organizations included in the funding are: Lewes Board of Public Works, $25,000 for capital projects; Lewes Historical Society, $50,000 for capital; Junction Railroad and Bridge Association, $25,000 for the swing bridge relocation project; Lewes Senior Center, $84,000 for capital improvements; Lewes in Bloom, $23,000 for its archway project; Lewes Unleashed, $25,000 for capital; Overfalls Foundation, $80,000 for bulkhead repair; and Covey Creek Homeowners Association in Lewes, $204,000 for street paving.

The Sussex County Land Trust was awarded $200,000 for relocation of a farmhouse and renovation of the Cannon-Maston House near Seaford.

Sussex County CHEER will use $450,000 for Phase II of its Gateway East Senior Residential Village in Georgetown.

World War II Tower 3 in Delaware Seashore State Park received $176,000 for a renovation project.

Also included in the funding package are: Rehoboth Art League, $150,000 for capital; Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club, $250,000 for its expansion project; Delaware Botanic Gardens near Dagsboro, $375,000 for construction of restrooms, a parking lot and lighting; James Farm Ecological Preserve, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, $150,000 for implementation of its master plan; Milton Theatre, $276,000 for capital; Oak Orchard-Riverdale American Legion Post 28, $150,000 for roof repairs; Richard Allen School in Georgetown, $70,331 for restroom renovations; First State Community Action Agency in Georgetown, $200,000 for renovations, including $125,000 for the Coverdale Crossroads Community Center; Georgetown EMS Station 93, $171,586 for a new ambulance purchase and building renovations; Mid-Sussex Rescue Squad, Millsboro, $69,083 for an emergency generator; Slaughter Neck Community Center, $200,000 for capital; Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding near Milton, $53,000 for arena improvements, a caretaker's residence, hay barn and equine housing; Assawoman Canal dredging project, $550,000, and trail project, $200,000; and Sussex Crisis Housing Services, $50,000 for expansion of its Georgetown facility.

The Sussex Conservation District will receive $675,000 for various projects including $370,950 for a 3-year pilot tax ditch project, and Sussex County government will use a $166,000 allotment for the Old Mill Bridge sidewalk project and electric speed signs. Sussex Habitat for Humanity will receive $50,000.

Key road, construction projects

Several key road and construction projects are funded in the record $1.36 billion Bond Bill.

Area road projects funded – including federal funds – in the fiscal 2022 Bond Bill include: Route 1-Cave Neck Road interchange, $7 million; Route 1-Route 16 grade-separated interchange, $10.7 million; Route 113-Routes 18/404 grade-separated interchange, $12.9 million; north Millsboro bypass from Route 113 to Route 24, $14.8 million; Plantation Road improvements, $7.1 million; Park Avenue relocation, Georgetown, $7 million; Route 9-Dartmouth Drive intersection to Freeman Highway improvements, $2.7 million; Old Orchard Road-Wescoats Road realignment and roundabout, $8.1 million; Cave Neck Road-Hudson Road-Sweetbriar Road intersection improvements, $400,000.

Major projects in the local area include: $4.6 million for improvements at Sussex County Courthouse; $131 million for new Sussex County and Kent County Family Court buildings; $3 million for renovations to the Biden Center in Cape Henlopen State Park; $1 million for the Nassau School project; and $14.2 million in state funding ($23.7 million total) for construction of a new Cape Henlopen School District middle school in Lewes.

See the complete list at tinyurl.com/2nu6futv.

Editor’s note: It was originally reported that DNREC received funding for improvements at the Indian River Marina. The language relating to the Indian River Marina in the fiscal year 2022 Bond Bill is a reference to language that was first included in fiscal year 2003 and allowed the Division of Parks and Recreation to improve the marina with funding from the 21st Century Fund park endowment. This language is still included in the Bond Bill as the division is making principal and interest payments on the original loan.