BISMARCK, N.D. Dec. 13, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Erin Oban today announced water projects to repair and replace water distribution and wastewater collection systems serving residents and members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, North Dakota.
"There are few things more basic and necessary in terms of infrastructure than access to clean, safe water and wastewater systems,” said Oban. “Individuals and families rely on it in their homes, small businesses and ag producers need it for their operations, and communities require it to expand economic opportunities and support the quality of life that every North Dakotan and American deserves. That infrastructure is especially challenging and costly to deliver in our most rural and remote communities, but President Biden, Secretary Vilsack, and our team at USDA Rural Development are committed to ensuring federal investments are made in our people and in places like Belcourt.” Audio:MP3, 48 seconds, 1MB
In North Dakota:
- The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians will use a $3,938,000 grant to replace and repair the water distribution system serving a portion of the city of Belcourt. The water main in this area of town was installed in the 1960s and is reaching the end of the 50-year design life. The area has experienced abrupt pipe failures and is difficult to repair due to the obsolescence of the pipe materials. There have also been additional users installed after the system was completed resulting in inadequate pressure and flow requirements. The completion of the project will bring this area of the system up to current standards and increase the quality of service to customers.
- The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians will use a $2,622,000 grant to replace and repair the wastewater collection system serving a portion of the city of Belcourt, North Dakota. The sanitary sewer in this area of town was installed in the 1960s and is reaching the end of the 50-year design life. The current system has excess infiltration, major dips in pipes, reverse flow, and frozen lines due to improper pipe depth which has resulted in numerous breaks and sewer backups. This project will bring this area of the system up to current standards and increase the quality of service to customers.
Background: Water and Environmental Programs
Through Water and Environmental Programs, administered by the Rural Utilities Service, rural communities can obtain the technical assistance and financing necessary to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems. WEP provides funding for the construction of water and waste facilities and is proud to be the only federal program exclusively focused on rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less and tribal communities.
New Web Resources for Rural Communities
USDA Rural Development today also unveiled two new web resources that underscore the agency’s mission to ensure all people have equitable access to federal programs.
A new history webpage traces USDA Rural Development’s evolution from the Great Depression and New Deal to the present, highlighting the many ways the agency supports efforts to create prosperity in rural communities.
A new feature on Rural.gov makes it easier to find these federal resources in one place. The Find Programs and Opportunities tool includes hundreds of millions of dollars in financing and technical assistance opportunities that are easy to search, filter and find. This information will help people in rural areas access funding for a variety of business, health care, housing, community, and economic development needs.
Under the leadership of 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 leadership of 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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