Funding Will Expand Access to Clean Water and Dependable Electric Power in People’s Homes and Businesses in Rural America
RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 16, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $401 million to build and improve critical rural infrastructure in North Carolina.
The investments reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Building a Better America by investing in rural communities and will help expand access to clean water and reliable electricity in people’s homes and businesses across the Tar Heel State.
“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 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.
“Today, USDA is investing $401 million to build and improve critical rural infrastructure in North Carolina,” said Rural Development State Director Reginald Speight. “These investments will provide our rural population safe, reliable and affordable services that are essential for modern life.”
For example:
- Blue Ridge EMC will use a $94 million loan under the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to build and improve 456 miles of line. This loan will connect five thousand people to reliable electricity in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes counties. This loan includes $18 million in smart grid technologies.
- Energyunited EMC will use a $80 million loan under the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to build and improve 844 miles of line. This loan will connect 10.9 thousand people to reliable electricity in Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. This loan includes $1.6 million in smart grid technologies.
- Four County EMC will use a $40 million loan under the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to build and improve 301 miles of line. This loan will connect 2.7 thousand people to reliable electricity in Bladen, Columbus, Duplin, Onslow, Pender and Sampson counties. This loan includes $698 thousand in smart grid technologies.
- Halifax Electric Membership Corporation will use a $12 million loan under the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to build and improve 85 miles of line. This loan will connect 1.8 thousand people to reliable electricity in Halifax, Martin, Nash and Warren counties. This loan includes $216 thousand in smart grid technologies.
- Lumbee River EMC will use a $45 million loan under the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to build and improve 266 miles of line. This line will connect 5.4 thousand people to reliable electricity in Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson and Scotland counties. This loan includes $3 million in smart grid technologies.
- Union Electric Membership Cooperative will use a $64 million loan under the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to build and improve 536 miles of line. This loan will connect 7.7 thousand people to reliable electricity in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union, counties. This loan includes $1 million in smart grid technologies.
- Town of Carthage will use a $903 thousand loan and $425 thousand grant under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to upgrade the McCaskill, Cox and Hwy 22 pump stations.
- Town of Crossnore will use a $155 thousand loan and $90 thousand grant under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to construct a new water supply well, complete with well house, pump, controls, chlorination, treatment system, and necessary electrical and piping.
- Town of Grover will use a $12 thousand loan and $59 thousand grant under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to improve the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition the meter vault and elevated storage tank, install a pressure reducing value at Kings Mountain's interconnection point, install new system values at various locations in the water system, and replacement of old fire hydrants.
- The City of Hamlet will use a $11.5 million loan and $6 million grant under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to construct a new wastewater treatment facility.
- Millennium Water Association will use a $412 thousand loan under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to install digital touch water meters for the water system and install two new sewer pump stations for the sewer system.
- Town of Mount Pleasant will use a $8 million loan under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to replace or install water line, install a new sewer lift station, install new force main, install a new gravity sewer, and rehab 25 manholes.
- Town of Siler City will use a $14.5 million loan and $1.8 million grant under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant.
Background
Vilsack highlighted 359 investments nationwide that USDA is making in seven programs designed to help people in rural areas access high-speed internet, clean water and dependable electric power. These programs include Community Connect Grants, Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees, Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program, Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees, Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants and Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants.
The investments announced today will support rural infrastructure projects in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.
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.
#
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lenders