Release No. 0398.09
Contact:
USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK ANNOUNCES OVER $175 MILLION FOR RURAL WATER PROJECTS
Recovery Act Funds Will Help Improve Infrastructure Across Rural America
WASHINGTON, August, 25, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of $175.8 million in water and environmental projects that are being funded immediately through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The projects will help provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment for rural communities in 27 states. To date, USDA has announced $1.47 billion for water and environmental project loans and grants through ARRA, benefiting communities throughout the country.
"The Recovery Act water and wastewater projects we are announcing today support the Obama administration's goal of rebuilding and revitalizing the nation's rural infrastructure," Vilsack said. "This funding will provide reliable drinking water and sanitary waste disposal while creating and saving jobs in rural America."
The City of Granite Falls, Minn., for example, will receive an $8.1 million loan and a $6 million grant to replace their existing water treatment plant with a new, more efficient plant. The old plant was constructed in the 1920s and is situated on a floodplain. When flooding occurs, the citizens of Granite Falls are often without safe drinking water for weeks. The new plant will not only be built away from the floodplain, but will have the capacity to both accommodate the water usage of the current population and that of the future population, which is expected to increase. As a result of this project, local businesses and residents will be assured safe and reliable water every day and a healthier environment in which to live.
Meanwhile, the Village of Dryden, N.Y., will receive a $3.6 million loan and a $2.9 million grant to upgrade and rehabilitate their wastewater treatment plant, which has been overwhelmed due to heavy rains and has exceeded its discharge rate. The upgrades will protect local environmental resources such as Fall Creek and Virgil Creek from contamination. In addition, the installation of upgraded meters and other components will better serve Dryden's residents well into the future, by improving operations and the long-term sustainability of the system.
The AARA funding announced today is being administered by USDA Rural Development's Water and Environmental Program, which provides loans and grants to ensure that the necessary investments are made in water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment in rural areas.
More information about USDA Rural Development can be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov. Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.
Below is a complete list of award recipients, by state:
Arizona:
Yuma County Improvement District - $3,680,024 grant
Delaware:
Sussex County Council - $2,000,000 direct loan and $1,570,000 grant
Florida:
City of Fellsmere - $2,304,200 direct loan
Hawaii:
Na Kupaa O Kuhio (Kakaina) - $541,000 direct loan and $377,800 grant
Na Kupaa O Kuhio (Piilani) - $471,000 direct loan and $339,000 grant
Idaho:
City of Menan - $1,300,000 direct loan and $1,689,000 grant
Indiana:
St. Bernice Water Corporation - $398,800 direct loan
Iowa:
Southern Iowa Rural Water Association - $1,400,000 direct loan and $3,399,000 grant
Kansas:
City of Hoisington - $879,000 direct loan
City of Rozel - $384,000 direct loan and $380,500 grant
Spring River PWWSD #19 - $3,328,000 direct loan and $8,886,000 grant
Louisiana:
Brouillette Community Water - $1,955,000 direct loan
Maine:
Town of Brownville - $450,000 direct loan and $1,265,000 grant
Maryland:
Allegany Board of Commissioners - $624,000 direct loan and $1,267,000 grant
County Commissioners of Kenty County - $780,000 direct loan and $330,000 grant
Michigan:
City of Essexville - $8,188,000 direct loan
Minnesota:
City of Braham - $778,000 direct loan and $1,346,000 grant
City of Granite Falls - $8,120,000 direct loan and $6,000,000 grant
City of Odin - $166,000 direct loan and $1,574,000 grant
City of Willow River - $925,000 direct loan and $106,000 grant
Missippi:
Beaverdam Water Assn. Inc. - $607,000 direct loan and $1,650,900 grant
Kossuth Water Association, Inc. - $2,275,000 direct loan and $1,725,000 grant
Town of Lake - $78,000 direct loan and $553,856 grant
Soso Community Water System, Inc. - $260,000 direct loan and $455,000 grant
South Holmes Water Association, Inc. - $41,000 direct loan and $109,000 grant
Missouri:
McDonald Co PWSD #3 - $726,000 grant
Montana:
Town of Valier - $902,000 direct loan and $1,075,500 grant
New Jersey:
City of North Wildwood - $2,238,000 direct loan and $1,412,000 grant
New York:
Village of Attica - $4,000,000 direct loan
Town of Byron (Cockram) - $121,000 direct loan and $32,300 grant
Town of Byron (Ivison) - $113,000 direct loan and $27,300 grant
Canastota Village - $100,000 direct loan and $2,900,000 grant
Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority (Phase 2) - $1,019,000 direct loan and $2,570,600 grant
Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority (Phase 4) - $1,549,000 direct loan and $3,107,000 grant
Village of Dryden - $3,636,000 direct loan and $2,972,000 grant
Town of Essex - $100,000 direct loan and $2,324,800 grant
Town of Fayette - $817,000 direct loan and $489,700 grant
Town of Marilla - $967,000 direct loan and $348,730 grant
Village of Newark Valley - $2,230,000 direct loan and $1,988,000 grant
Village of Sackets Harbor - $100,000 direct loan and $1,900,000 grant
Town of Varick - $597,000 direct loan and $357,300 grant
Oklahoma:
Hughes Co. RWD #2 - $840,000 direct loan and $1,482,300 grant
Oregon:
City of Hood River Water System Improvements - $13,099,000 direct loan and $9,877,000 grant
Pennsylvania:
Township of Dublin - $395,000 direct loan and $1,202,960 grant
South Carolina:
Montmorenci-Couchton WSD - $2,041,000 direct loan and $1,560,800 grant
Saluda County Water & Sewer Authority - $1,201,000 direct loan and $626,800 grant
South Dakota:
City of Ipswich - $1,635,000 direct loan and $3,228,000 grant
Texas:
Cross County Water Supply Corporation - $3,175,000 direct loan
Virginia:
County of Alleghany - $2,429,000 direct loan and $2,730,600 grant
Carroll County PSA (Sewer) - $2,000,000 direct loan and $2,373,000 grant
Carroll County PSA (Water) - $1,000,000 direct loan and $2,689,000 grant
Scott County PSA - $480,000 direct loan and $1,438,000 grant
Vermont:
Town of Windsor - $2,197,000 direct loan and $1,771,000 grant
Wisconsin:
City of Mauston (Sewer) - $1,480,000 direct loan and $382,100 grant
City of Mauston (Water) - $339,000 direct loan and $86,800 grant
Village of Weyerhaeuser - $769,000 direct loan and $596,000 grant
President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation's economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
More information about USDA's Recovery Act efforts is available at www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal government's efforts on the Recovery Act is available at www.recovery.gov.
#
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
#
USDA News
oc.news@xxxxxxxx
202 720-4623
----------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, send email to mailto:webservices@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE and reference your email address.
