GAINESVILLE, Fla., Dec. 16, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Acting State Director for Rural Development Jason Brower for Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands today announced that USDA is investing $14,371,400 to build and improve critical rural infrastructure in Florida.
“When we invest in rural infrastructure, we invest in the livelihoods and health of people in rural America,” Vilsack said. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice president Harris, USDA is committed to Building a Better America by investing in America’s rural infrastructure, expanding access to broadband, clean drinking water and resilient power infrastructure. The investments we are announcing today will drive the creation of good-paying union jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably so that everyone gets ahead for decades to come.”
This announcement follows the recent passage of President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development’s programs are helping people, businesses and communities address critical infrastructure needs to help rural America build back better.
The three recipients receiving Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program are:
- Okeechobee Utility Authority in Okeechobee County, Fla., will use $8,391,000 to construct a sewer collection system to serve 503 residents that are currently on aged septic systems. This improvement will correct health and sanitary issues by reducing nutrient loading into Lake Okeechobee and the Lake Okeechobee basin.
- Holt Water Works Inc. in Okaloosa County, Fla., will use $4,740,400 for water system improvements which consists of construction of a new well, a new elevated storage tank, replacement of asbestos pipes and aged meters with updated radio read water meters. This improvement will also add a secondary source of water to correct health and sanitary issues.
- Floral City Water Association Inc. in Citrus County, Fla., will use $1,240,000 to make improvements to the water system by extending water lines to residents that are currently on private wells and have water quality issues. The improvement will provide quality drinking water for the residents.
Background
Vilsack and Brower highlighted three investments in rural Florida that USDA is making in the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program designed to help people in rural areas access clean water. The investments announced today will support water infrastructure projects in Okeechobee, Okaloosa and Citrus counties.
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. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and 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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