Residents, businesses and institutions in eight New Hampshire communities will benefit from improved water and environmental infrastructure thanks to a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) which invested $6,086,618 in loans and $4,153,800 in grants in essential improvement projects in 2016. Senator Jeanne Shaheen joined USDA Rural Development officials to announce the USDA’s Water and Environmental Program investments at the ribbon cutting for the Conway Village Force Main Project whose completion marks the end of a moratorium on local development.
“For a town to experience economic expansion, be it a new business looking to establish itself on the end of main street or a young family looking to buy a home close to the local school, communities must have the water and environmental infrastructure necessary to support that growth,” said Ted Brady, USDA Rural Development Vermont and New Hampshire State Director. “USDA Rural Development is proud to support the hard work of community partners whose dedication to building and maintaining environmental infrastructure protects the health and safety of residents and enables growth in New Hampshire’s communities.”
Brady joined the Conway Village Fire District Commission to celebrate the completion of the interconnection between the Conway and North Conway wastewater systems. The project, originally funded by USDA Rural Development in 2012, installed a three mile main extension to connect Conway’s wastewater system to the upgraded treatment plant in North Conway. The project also included a new head works building, the decommissioning of the lagoons system and the removal of outflow into the Saco River improving the health of the river’s ecosystem. Commissioner Janine Bean noted that the increased capacity of the new system will allow for the expansion of workforce and elderly housing within the community as well as open doors for new development in the village’s industrial zone.
“Access to water and stable environmental infrastructure is key to the growth of Granite State communities and businesses,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “The funded projects will protect the vital Saco River watershed for the foreseeable future and I’m proud to have worked with the USDA to get the funding secured and now see the project completed.”
At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Brady announced the eight communities across the state that received funding through USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environment program in 2016. This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage for households, businesses and institutions in rural areas. Over 4,000 water and sewer users will have improved water and waste services resulting from the Agency’s 2016 New Hampshire investments. Projects funded in 2016 include:
- Town of Antrim - $ 1,871,000 loan and grant to replace 79 year old water mains.
- Ashley Park Cooperative, Pembroke -$513,100 loan and grant to replace the deteriorating water and sewer systems in a 12-unit mobile home park.
- Bethlehem Village District - $3,764,600 loan and grant to perform upgrades to the surface water treatment plant.
- Town of Colebrook - $30,000 grant to perform initial engineering and environmental evaluations for wastewater treatment facility improvements.
- Deer Estates Cooperative, Milan - $24,000 grant to perform initial engineering and environmental reports to evaluate water and wastewater needs of a 20 unit residential park.
- Town of Enfield - $2,120,000 loan and grant to extend the town waste water system to Lakeview Condominiums.
- Gaslight Village Cooperative, Inc., Tilton - $15,100 grant to update a feasibility study on replacing the aging water and waste water systems and 572,618 grant and loan to upgrade the infrastructure serving 29 manufactured home units.
- Plymouth Village Water and Sewer District - $1,300,000 loan and grant to refurbish the village septage receiving facility and $30,000 grant to perform initial engineering and environmental evaluations for the replacement of the water and sewer lines.
USDA, through its RD mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of $214 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural areas. For more information on Rural Development visit the New Hampshire Rural Development website (www.rd.usda.gov/nh) or contact USDA RD at (603) 223-6035.