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Independence, Sparta to Benefit from USDA Water Infrastructure Funding

Name
Eric Peters
City
Richmond
Release Date

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Virginia Rural Development office today announced it will award $1.75 million in funding to the Virginia-Carolina Water Authority to establish an adequate raw water source for Independence, Va., and Sparta, N.C.

Funding will be distributed through a $1,181,000 low-interest loan and a $572,000 grant. USDA Rural Development previously awarded the water authority a predevelopment planning grant totaling $11,250 to help guide and plan the project.

“Ensuring there is a reliable water supply in rural towns is difficult but important,” said Basil Gooden, Ph.D., Virginia’s USDA Rural Development State Director. “We work with localities like Independence and Sparta to help find solutions to their water issues because establishing and stabilizing adequate access to water is the foundation for healthy living, strong quality of life and positive economic development.”

USDA Rural Development funds will be used to construct a raw water intake on the New River.  The project also includes the addition of pre-treatment equipment in the form of an absorption clarifier within the existing filter plant for use with existing chemical equipment when turbidity of the raw water it too high.

Funding announced today is made available through the USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program, which provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.

In 2015, USDA Rural Development in Virginia invested in 32 water and environmental projects totaling more than $35 million in loans and grants.

Funding of the awards announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan and grant.

USDA Rural Development in 2015 invested more than $1 billion in rural Virginia through 40 loan, grant and loan guarantee programs in housing, business, agriculture, energy, health care and community facilities. It has employees stationed in 14 offices across the commonwealth to better serve residents where they live and to improve the economy and quality of life in rural Virginia.