Rep. Jen Kiggans Visits Northampton County Community Center to Present Grant Funds
Rep. Jen Kiggans presents a ceremonial check for 1.3 million dollars for the Community Center Septic System Project to Northampton County Board of Supervisors Jon Dempster, Dixon Leatherbury, Betsy Mapp and Oliver Bennett. Supervisor Ernest Smith, Jr. was unable to attend.
Machipongo, VA - On Monday, April 13, 2026, Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) visited the Northampton County Community Center at 7247 Young Street in Machipongo to announce the allocation of grant funds for a new wastewater treatment system. Kiggans successfully secured $1,300,000 for this crucial upgrade.
Project Overview
Northampton County Parks & Recreation Community Center
The Northampton County Community Center Wastewater Treatment System project aims to replace and enhance the outdated facultative ponds and stream discharge sanitary system from 1964, which has surpassed its operational lifespan. This system serves both the Northampton Community Center and the County School Administrative Offices located on the property. During her speech, Kiggans emphasized:
“This is money that you already paid to the federal government; my job, as the representative for this district, is just to bring it back here, to listen to the needs of our community. The Eastern Shore is such a special place for our second district, with so many very special needs.”
The potential failure of the current system poses a serious risk to both surface and groundwater sources, jeopardizing the health and well-being of County residents. The upgraded system will significantly decrease nitrogen, phosphorus, and fecal coliform emissions into nearby water sources, including the Chesapeake Bay, just a few miles away. This reduction in pollutants is vital for safeguarding the delicate ecosystem of the bay.
Community Impact
Jen Kiggans presents the ceremonial check for 1.3 million dollars for the Wasterwater treatment project to retired County Adminstrator, Charles Kolakowski and current County Administrator, Matt Spuck
County Administrator Matt Spuck remarked:
“What makes this investment so important, isn’t it just what it builds, but it's what it protects. It protects our single source aquifer. The only drinking water source that we have. And it supports our working lands and waterways, the farms, the fisheries, and the marshes, and all the natural systems that make both our economy and our way of life here on the shore. It makes our community healthier by putting the kind of infrastructure that lets us grow, but do it in the right way, thoughtfully, safely, with an eye on the future. That's what a good partnership looks like.”
Kiggans added,
“I look forward to seeing these dollars being put to good use and coming back here when the project is done and just seeing again a community center filled with people. And what that does to bring our community together, so thank you to the local leaders who are here.”
The funding will also provide increased access to services for historically underserved populations. The improved system, with expanded treatment capacity, will enable the delivery of additional essential services to County residents. The project has a federal nexus as it is authorized under Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Public Law 7 U.S. Code Section 1926(a)(2)).
Kiggans concluded,
“I'm a big believer in community centers...to unite, bring our communities together, not just for our young people, and school programs, but for our older adults, for people who really need to get out of the house, and come together. These types of centers are so important for our communities. So it's an easy choice when I have to prioritize that funding. But it's for something so basic, like a septic system improvement. People take that kind of funding for granted. You know, we turn on our waters and we have clean water, we flush our toilets, everything kind of magically happens, but a lot of work and a lot of infrastructure goes into to making that happen.”
Also present were members of the Board of Supervisors and the School Board, along with NCPS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Martin. Notable attendees included Northampton County Commissioner of Revenue Consuelo Gonzales, Northampton Director of Finance John Chandler; Northampton County Parks & Recreation Director LaKita Fisher and Northampton County Cooperative Extension Agent Helene Doughty, both of whom have their offices in the same building. Additionally, County Staff, and representatives from Rep. Kiggans' office were in attendance.
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Thank you to, Angela DeMarino from the Commissioner of Revenue's office who coordinated and arranged the welcome table and room to receive our esteemed guests.