Funding will Improve Infrastructure for Nearly 7,000 Rural Wisconsinites
STEVENS POINT, Wis., October 14, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wisconsin Rural Development Acting State Director Michelle Wallace announced that 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.
“These investments will bring reliable, critical infrastructure enhancements to these Wisconsin rural communities by increasing efficiencies and addressing environmental hazards,” Wallace said. “By partnering with our rural communities, we build economic opportunity and prosperity for people and businesses to create safe places to live and work.”
The Village of Baldwin is receiving a $14.5 million loan and a $3.6 million grant to replace its wastewater treatment plant, improving service for nearly 3,800 people. The current plant is too small to support essential community facilities and economic development in the community. Additionally, much of the equipment is reaching the end of its useful life. The new plant will bring the community into compliance with state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) pollutant discharge elimination standards and phosphorus limits.
The Village of Clear Lake will use a $2.2 million loan provide additional funding for the wastewater treatment plant upgrade initially funded in 2017 and will serve almost 1,100 users. The facility needed a major renovation to address aging infrastructure and more stringent discharge permit requirements imposed by the DNR. The project will update facilities to meet the demands of local and industrial users and new phosphorus permit requirements. Project improvements include updating treatment processes, new treatment tanks, a new treatment building and improvements/upgrades throughout the facility.
The City of Eagle River will use a $365,000 loan and a $364,000 grant to provide additional funding for the wastewater treatment facility upgrade initially funded in 2020 and will serve almost 1,400 users. The facility has been receiving increased volumes of landfill leachate and experienced difficulty meeting permit limits. This project will install disinfection systems at the facility and cover the cost and feasibility of leachate pretreatment/treatment along with the nearby landfill. Also included in this project is replacement of equipment that will positively impact efforts to optimize biological phosphorus removal. This funding will be supplemented with $1,000,000 from Community Development Block Grant funds and was the result of a USDA SEARCH grant in 2019.
The Village of Tennyson will use a $750,000 grant to provide additional financing for the water system project initially funded in 2018 and will serve almost 400 users. The original project included a water tower, improvements to the water utilities well house and water main replacements on two streets. This project is needed due to the new water tower being installed as the water system pressure is about 30 psi higher resulting in numerous water main breaks due to faulty pipes across the system. Most of the breaks occurred under a state highway right-of-way where the pipe was installed in the 1950's-1960's. The additional funds will be used to replace this section of pipe so it can meet the increased pressure of the system.
The Town of Pence will use a $165,000 grant to provide additional financing for the collection system improvement project initially funded in 2019 and will serve almost 200 residents. This project includes improvements to reduce the amount of clear water infiltration by replacing and rehabilitating damaged manholes, replacing lineal feet of the connection sewer main into manholes and installing larger capacity pumps in a new packaged type lift station.
USDA is financing the projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water drainage. The program serves households and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.
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.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, interested parties should contact our Wisconsin USDA Rural Development office at 715-345-7600 or wi-rd-stateoffice@usda.gov and visit our website www.rd.usda.gov/wi. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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