Funding to benefit more than 19,000 rural residents and advance President Biden’s Investing in America agenda – a key pillar of Bidenomics
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 28, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $808 million to help rural cooperatives and utilities build and improve electric infrastructure and increase electric grid reliability and security, connecting hundreds of thousands of people in rural areas. This funding will also help provide clean drinking water and sanitary wastewater systems in rural areas for years to come.
Tennessee Rural Development State Director Arlisa Armstrong is pleased to announce that today’s investment will benefit more than 19,000 rural residents while also building and strengthening rural infrastructure, and creating good-paying jobs.
The funding announced today advances President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics, to grow the American economy from the middle-out and bottom up – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $500 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good-paying jobs and building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
“We are grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration understanding the importance of investing in infrastructure in our rural communities,” Armstrong said. “Today’s investments will impact the lives of more than 19,000 rural residents by improving wastewater infrastructure and essential community facility needs. These investments will highlight our agency’s commitment to a stronger rural Tennessee for years to come.”
The 139 investments announced today will help people living in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and the Marshall Islands.
In Tennessee:
- Doe Valley Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $19,200 grant to purchase a used pumper/tanker truck which will be used to provide water to fight fires in remote areas of Johnson County, Tennessee. The project will benefit the 4,161 residents of the county.
- The Town of Oliver Springs will receive a $734,000 grant to complete the rehabilitation of the wastewater collection system. Corrections to the existing sewer infrastructure will prevent overflows at the treatment plant and improve water quality in the area. This project will benefit the approximately 3,200 customers within the service area. Previous funding includes a $7.5 million USDA loan and grant.
- The Town of Ashland City will receive a $10.6 million loan and $5 million grant to provide additional funding for construction costs. These funds will complete wastewater system improvements for Ashland City, Tennessee. The new wastewater treatment plant and sewer rehabilitation will benefit the approximately 4,500 customers.
- Second South Cheatham Utility District will receive a $2 million loan to replace waterlines in the service area within portions of Cheatham County, Tennessee. This project will provide better flow and dependability of potable water for the approximately 7,800 customers within the service area. Previous funding includes $4,383,000 in USDA loans.
USDA is making the investments through the Electric Loan Program, Water and Waste Disposal Direct Loan and Grant Program, Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees Program, Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks for Colonias Program, Solid Waste Management Grants Program, Community Facilities Program, Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program and Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program.
Today’s announcement further advances the groundbreaking Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan with $78 million in new awards for lead pipe remediation. With up to 10 million American households connecting to water through lead pipes and service lines, the Administration is working aggressively to replace all lead service lines in America in the next decade. USDA is partnering with communities to address this challenge through its various programs.
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.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under 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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