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 HIGHLIGHTS $10 MILLION RECOVERY ACT PROJECT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO
WINTERSVILLE, Ohio, August 31, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today visited with Jefferson County officials to highlight plans for a $10 million infrastructure project that will eliminate runoff from failing septic tanks and improve local water quality. USDA Rural Development is providing a $5 million loan and $4.4 million grant for the project made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Jefferson County, which will benefit 350 users in Wayne and Cross Creek townships.
"This project is another example of how the Recovery Act is not only creating jobs, but also protecting the environment and providing much-need infrastructure improvements for rural residents," Vilsack said. "As the Obama Administration continues working to rebuild and revitalize rural America, it is partnerships like this that can help solve this community's long-standing water quality and public health issues."
The project is located in an industrial area of the state that has lost population in recent years. When completed, the new sanitary sewer collection system is expected to bring new investments and jobs to the area. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2010 and take approximately 18 months.
Earlier today, Vilsack led an Obama Administration 'Rural Tour' forum in Zanesville, Ohio, where he shared information with local residents about the work USDA is doing to revitalize and rebuild rural America and asked local residents how USDA can be helpful in supporting and initiating other programs and projects to help the community participate fully and successfully in the new, 21st century economy.
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 Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development and supports the creation of critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development's web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov.
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