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On Earth Day, USDA Invests $23.2 Million in Rural Infrastructure in Illinois

Name
Chris Hart
City
Champaign
Release Date

Champaign, April 22, 2021 Today, in honor of Earth Day 2021, Acting State Director Molly Hammond announced the United States Department of Agriculture is investing $23,250,000 in critical infrastructure that will help communities in Illinois build back better and stronger while prioritizing climate-smart solutions and environmental stewardship. USDA is making the investments in Illinois under the Water and Environmental Program the Rural Energy for America Program, and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.

“Economic development and growth in rural Illinois are central to USDA Rural Development’s mission,” Hammond said. “The investments we are announcing today demonstrate the vast resources USDA is targeting in our back yard. Communities and businesses that will reinvent what it means to be sustainable while enhancing the quality of life in rural Illinois.”

Highlights of today’s announcement include investments in:

Rural Water and Wastewater Infrastructure:

Sharpsburg and Neighboring Area Water System: will use a $1,205,000 loan and $240,000 grant to assist the water system in extending water service to additional users in May, Mosquito, Mt. Auburn and Stonington Townships all located in Christian County.  The project will provide potable water to 178 people that currently rely on private wells or cisterns as their water source and will eliminate the health threats attributed to poor quality and quantity of water.

Village of Ashmore: Will use a $100,000 loan to complete the water main replacement project for the Village of Ashmore.  Project bids came in higher than expected due to increased construction material costs due to COIVD-19.  This project allows the Village to complete their project of replacing approximately 10,631 LF of water main, 51 service meters, 11 fire hydrants and associated miscellaneous appurtenances. The project will correct the health and sanitary issues and allow the Village to continue providing safe potable water to 785 residents in Coles County.

Village of Humboldt: Will use a $190,000 loan to make improvements to the sewer system. The project includes the construction of 145 LF of 8" sewer pipe; cleaning of lagoon cells; rehabilitation to the electrical service; lift station upgrade; WTR aeration system for cells 1 and 2; and associated miscellaneous appurtenances. This project will alleviate health and sanitary concerns and is located in Coles County, IL. Approximately 430 people will benefit.

Village of Brownstown: Will use a $60,000 loan to provide additional financing for the water main replacement project.  This project will install and replace approximately 21,500 LF of water main, part of which contains asbestos. Replacement of 2" service line will also be replaced.  Installation of radio read meters and miscellaneous associated appurtenances will also be part of the project.  These improvements bring the system back up to IEPA minimum standards and eliminate health and sanitary concerns.  This project will benefit the 759 residents of the community.

Village of Niantic: Will use a $100,000 loan to provide additional financing for the water main replacement project.  This project will replace 12,476 linear feet of 6" water main, hydrants and meters for Phase 1 and plan to replace the remaining 8,950 linear feet of 6" water main in Phase 2.  This project will benefit the approximately 700 residents of the community.

City of Staunton: will use a $3,296,000 loan to replace the existing box culvert with a 7" x 7" box culvert where Gensing Creek runs under the business district of Staunton. This will ensure that the surface water running through Gensing Creek remains within a structure capable of handling the flow. The project will assist in preventing erosion alongside the culvert and help prevent the potential for cavitation along the box culvert.  This project will eliminate a health and safety hazard.

Village of Riverton, Incorporated: Will use a $3,669,000 loan for the expansion of potable water services for the Overpass Business Park. The project will construct approximately 7400 linear feet of 10" water main and associated appurtenances. In addition,  clean, repair, and repaint the existing 200,000 gallons elevated water storage tank, upgrade components at the water treatment plant, replace existing water meters, extend water main down Riverton Road and Wright Lane, and replace undersized and failing water mains with associated appurtenances along Lincoln Street.  The project will benefit 4,328 people. 

City of Johnston City: Will use a $2,577,000 loan to make water system improvements for Johnston City, located in Williamson County, IL. System improvements include the construction of a 300,000-gallon elevated pedosphere water tower. The project also contains a system-wide replacement of water meters and the addition of telemetry. These improvements will alleviate health and sanitary concerns and will provide safe potable water to approximately 3,500 people.

City of Chrisman: Will use $5,400,000 loan and a $1,928,000 grant to improve the city’s waste treatment plant. It will replace the pump station and pressurized sewer pipes, add filtration systems, and build a new plant facility. These improvements will resolve excess ammonia-nitrogen levels, thus eliminating noted health and sanitary concerns and will bring the system up to acceptable standards for 1,343 residents in this community.

Raleigh Water District: Will use a $1,146,000 loan and $325,000 grant for water system improvements. The project will repair the system's elevated water tank. The project will also connect directly to Saline Valley for water purchase and will include remote master meter readings and chlorine monitoring. This project will serve more than 800 people in the water district, located in Saline county.

Village of Rossville: Will use a loan of $1,718,000 to improve the village of Rossville's sewer system, including constructing a 1,200 gallon per minute pump station and a new main to connect the station to the wastewater treatment plant. This project will bring the system up to required safety and health standards. Improvements to the facility will serve 1,331 people in Vermilion County.

Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP)

Village of Arlington Heights: Will use a grant of $37,500 to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels.  The Village of Arlington Heights is a fleet fueling facility. This project will replace two dispensers at one facility located in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel.

Rural Energy for America Program:

Novel IL DG LLC: Will use a loan of $1,258,000 to purchase and install 21 solar arrays for Novel IL DG 1 LLC to generate electricity for sale. The solar arrays will be owned by Novel IL DG 1 LLC but will be installed on the properties of several third-party agricultural producers (14) and rural businesses (3). The electricity produced from a given solar array will be sold to the agricultural producer or business whose property the array is placed. Any energy generated beyond what is consumed by the third-party will be sold back to the grid. The third parties are in the following Illinois communities: Ogden, Aviston, Tampico, Decatur, Kewanee, Viola, Fulton, Fairbury, Aledo, Shannon, Peoria, Greenville, Morton, and Little York. All combined, the solar arrays are projected to produce 1,461,513 megawatt-hours of energy annually.

If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page. 

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

 

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