RALEIGH, Oct. 14, 2021 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $19.5 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for people living in rural communities across North Carolina.
“Rural Development is providing much needed assistance to help rebuild these dated water systems in rural North Carolina,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Reginald Speight. “USDA Water and Environmental Programs help rural communities obtain the financing and technical assistance necessary to develop, maintain and improve drinking water and waste disposal systems.”
USDA is financing four projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program in North Carolina:
- Bryson City is receiving a $6.6 million loan and $1.7 million grant upgrade many components in the town’s wastewater collection system. Construction includes replacing 26 thousand feet of gravity line; replacement of 130 manholes, replacement of the headworks at the treatment plant.
- Northampton County is receiving a $4.9 million loan to help in the construction of Phase VI of the county-wide water system project. Upgrades are construction of 29 miles of water transmission line, and installation of 34 fire hydrants and 25 air release valves. The project will provide potable water service to its customers and loop dead-end lines to improve overall system hydraulics.
- Roseboro is receiving a $1.6 million loan to construct a new water supply well, installation of three thousand feet of water line, upgrades to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, replacement of non-functioning valves, and necessary appurtenances.
- Vance County Water District is receiving a $1.6 million loan and $2.8 million grant to fund the construction of their Phase B waterline expansion project. Upgrades consists of installing 23 miles of water mains, expansion of the county’s coverage to 210 rural residents within the Kittrell Township.
“As people in many parts of the nation battle drought and fires brought on by climate change, there has never been a more urgent need for this assistance,” Vilsack said. “When we invest in rural infrastructure, we build opportunity and prosperity for people in rural communities. These investments support the local economy by making rural communities attractive, economically viable and safe places to live and work, therefore helping to create and save jobs by attracting and retaining employers and workers. Investing in rural water infrastructure is one of the many things the Biden-Harris Administration is doing to help the nation build back better during the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Background:
The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage. The program serves people and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.
USDA is investing $272 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for 270,000 people living in rural communities across 37 states and Puerto Rico.
Announcements today are in the states of 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.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, contact a USDA Rural Development state office.
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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