News
USDA releases grants/loans for rural water and sewer needs
The USDA is releasing more than 270-Million dollars in loans and grants for critical water and sewer needs in rural America.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the Rural Development funds will help all sizes of projects, from small to large.
“You travel up to Baldwin, Wisconsin and that’s a large project, 18.1 million dollars in grants and loans designed to replace their entire wastewater treatment plant. Or you can travel to Oaktown, Indiana, where the grant and loan is a small amount – 50,000 dollars – but it’s designed to essentially update their drainage system which can avoid flooding.”
Vilsack says unresolved water issues can cause a lot of problems – and, in fact – a tragedy led to him becoming mayor of his small town of Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
“A citizen was upset over sewage backing up in his home, took matters tragically into his own hands by shooting and killing the mayor of our town as well as seriously wounding two council members over these issues. So, this is serious business, folks.”
The water loans and grants are for small towns of under 10-thousand people.
USDA is financing 114 projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. These investments will help improve rural infrastructure for 270,000 people and businesses.
USDA is announcing investments today in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.
My home is in Paola, Kansas. We live in an area of town that has some important waste problems. My home is on the downhill side of other homes on our sewage system area. The sewage lines are blocking frequently. I have found out that these lines for about 8 families are emptying down to my property and that these lines are owned by the residents.
I would like to apply for a Government Grant to help our group of homeowners repair what has to be done.
I have asked the City of Paola for a list of homeowners on our section of town that uses these lines, but have yet to receive said list. The city of Paola has offered to do the labor since it involves city streets. What remains is to replace the existing, very old 4″ pipes with the 6″ or 8″ pipes that actually should be there. City of Paola estimates this to be at least $22,000 , maybe more. I am retired, medically not able to work. Other neighbors have their own issues. The price is out of our control or ability to pay completely. We all would appreciate any grant help you could give us.