DES MOINES, IOWA, April 22, 2021 – In recognition of Earth Day 2021, Acting State Director for Rural Development in Iowa Darin Leach, today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $27 million in critical infrastructure that will help 12 Iowa communities build a stronger foundation while prioritizing climate-smart solutions and environmental stewardship. USDA is making the investments under the Water and Environmental Program, and the Rural Energy for America Program.
“Investing in modern and accessible climate-smart infrastructure allows Rural Development and our partners to be one small part of a greater effort to reduce our carbon footprint as a whole,” Leach said. “Today’s investments demonstrate USDA’s commitment to leveraging rural partnerships for the betterment of our environment well into the future.”
Iowa projects receiving awards today include:
- The City of Harpers Ferry will use a $1.9 million loan to assist with improvements to the city's sewer treatment system.
- The City of Anita will use a $1.88 million loan and $401,000 grant to improve to its municipal sewer system.
- The City of Brighton will use a $173,000 loan and $227,000 grant to upgrade its existing wastewater treatment system.
- The City of Ruthven will use $832,000 loan to complete a renovation of its wastewater treatment plant.
- The City of Shenandoah will use a $17.7 million loan and $2 million grant to expand and upgrade the city's existing wastewater facility and infrastructure.
- The City of Sidney will use a $525,000 loan to complete infrastructure improvements to its water system.
- The City of Martelle will use a $1.2 million loan and $86,000 grant to improve to the city's wastewater collection system.
- Textile Brewery, LLC, will use a $20,000 grant to purchase and install a 38-kW solar array at its brewery in Decorah.
- JSBB Pork LLC will use a $20,000 grant to purchase and install a 51-kW solar array at its swine finishing site.
- John Deppe will use a $12,968 grant to purchase and install a grain drying system.
- S&S Car Wash LLC will use a $3,914 grant to purchase and install a 51-kW solar array at its car wash in Tama County.
- Bradley Meints will use a $15,982 grant to purchase and install a 40-kW solar array to assist his farming operation.
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million residents living in rural Iowa. Office locations include a state office in Des Moines, along with local offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly. These offices provide loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs 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/ia or call (515) 284-4663. Follow us on Twitter @RD_Iowa.
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.