On September 3, the 200th day after President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled to Louisa, Virginia to meet with local officials and community residents. The town has received a $3.3 million loan through the Recovery Act to help the community expand the processing capabilities of their wastewater treatment plant and improve local water quality. The project will create or save 50 jobs.
Like many rural communities across America, Louisa, population 1,500, is in need of investments and assistance to upgrade critical infrastructure. Mayor Jim Artz highlighted how important the USDA loan was for his the town. "Our infrastructure really needs some work, this is an old town," said Artz. "Conventional loans would have placed a tremendous load on our annual budget, because of this is a USDA loan, we are looking at a savings of $60,000 per year. This is big savings for a small town."
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK ANNOUNCES $250 MILLION IN RECOVERY ACT FUNDS FOR RURAL WATER PROJECTS
USDA's Recovery Act Investments in Rural Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects Passes $1 Billion; 32 additional projects in 17 States to Receive Funding
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of $250 million in water and environmental projects that are being funded immediately through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The 32 projects will help provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment systems for rural towns and communities in 17 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. This is the fifth wave of water and environmental projects that USDA has announced, with total funding of $1.134 billion.
"Recovery Act projects are putting people to work and helping communities of all sizes build a foundation for economic strength and future prosperity," said Vilsack. "The water and wastewater projects we're announcing today are helping to achieve the Obama Administration's economic recovery goals by rebuilding and revitalize the nation's infrastructure while creating or retaining jobs."
USDA Rural Development's Water and Environmental Program 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.
For example, the City of Faulkton in Faulk County, S.D., will receive a loan and grant for $2.12 million to construct a new 125,000 gallon elevated water tower, purchase a standby electric generator for the pumping, and other upgrades that, combined, will improve the efficiency and modernize the community's water system. This investment will provide a significant boost to the quality of life for the city's 785 residents and an improvement for the city's fire protection services.
In Hoquiam, Wash., the city has made its lagoon modernization project a high-capital improvement priority. The lagoon, as it is now, has a significant potential of leaching pollutants into the local water system, risking public health and jeopardizing area industry. The city will receive a $9.47 million loan to modify its 48-acre lagoon that stabilizes and stores waste and sludge, and serves as an emergency holding area for excess flow to the treatment plant. Funds also will help to remove waste that has built up for 30 years and poses a significant environmental risk.
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.
Projects that Secretary Vilsack announced today include:
California:
Frazier Park Public Utility District (Water); $2,100,000 loan; $1,000,000 grant
Connecticut:
Town of New Hartford (Sewage); $3,594,000 loan; $4,026,790 grant
Georgia:
City of Blue Ridge (Water); $12,926,000 loan; $3,663,000 grant
Idaho:
City of Priest River (Water); $3,680,000 loan; $1,577,000 grant
Kentucky:
Rattlesnake Ridge Water District (Water); $1,336,000 loan; $600,000 grant
Western Mason County Water District (Water): $700,000 loan; $300,000 grant
Michigan:
Gogebic Range Water Authority (Water); $7,917,000 loan; $3,000,000 grant
Hampton Township (Sewage); $13,224,000 loan; $4,776,000 grant
Kingston Water System (Water); $1,852,000 loan
Midland County - Edenville Township (Water); $8,550,000 loan; $450,000 grant
Port Hope Gore Rubicon Utility Authority (Water); $503,000 loan
Village of Union City - Sewer Lagoon (Sewage); $1,026,000 loan; $838,000 grant
Missouri:
Henry Co., PWSD No 3 (Water); $850,000 loan; $465,500 grant
Mississippi:
North Lauderdale Water Association (Water); $1,025,000 loan
North Carolina:
North Lenoir Water Corporation (Water); $3,160,000 loan; $2,600,000 grant
New Hampshire:
Town of Farmington (Sewage); $4,619,000 loan; $5,882,000 grant
New York:
Village of Ellenville (Sewage); $5,244,000 loan; $1,941,000 grant
Village of Springville (Sewage); $3,000,000 loan
Ohio:
Paulding County - Auglaize River (Sewage); $2,524,000 loan; $3,406,000 grant
Clarendon County Water System Phase I (Water); $2,533,000 loan; $1,951,100 grant
South Dakota:
City of Eureka (Water); $454,000 loan; $453,000 grant
City of Faulkton (Water); $1,141,000 loan; $983,000 grant
City of Miller (Water); $765,000 loan; $351,000 grant
Town of Roslyn (Water and Sewage); $415,000 loan; $873,300 grant
City of Selby (Water); $280,000 loan; $234,000 grant
Virginia:
Town of Goshen (Water); $26,000 loan; $1,000,000 grant
Vermont:
Village of Barton (Sewage); $443,400 loan; $1,306,000 grant
Town of Pittsford (Water); $2,600,00 loan; $2,115,100 grant
Town of Troy (Water); $112,000 loan; $337,000 grant
Washington:
City of Hoquiam (Sewage); $9,470,000 loan
Western Pacific:
Government of Guam (Solid Waste); $88,536,000 loan; $15,019,300 grant
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on February 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 efforts is available at www.usda.gov/recovery , including a blog where people can 'Share Your Story' about how Recovery Act projects are impacting their communities. Additional information about the overall recovery program is available at www.recovery.gov.
