USDA Rural Development State Director Patty Clark announced loans and grant for eight projects to build and improve water and wastewater infrastructure in rural communities across Kansas.
“USDA assists rural Kansas communities update water and wastewater infrastructure to better prepare for economic growth and by providing modern infrastructure for residents,” said Clark. “Communities and rural regions will need to work together to address water treatment and distribution systems that reflect the challenges of diminishing water supplies, clean water standards and long-term affordability.”
USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) provides loans, grants and loan guarantees for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste and storm drainage facilities in rural areas and cities and towns of 10,000 or less.
Since 2009, USDA has helped provide improved water and wastewater services to nearly 18 million rural residents by investing $12.3 billion in 5,174 projects.
In Kansas, eight projects are receiving a total of $10,132,500 in USDA Rural Development financing to upgrade their water and wastewater infrastructure.
- City of Delia
$17,000 Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant
Funds will be used to pay an engineering firm to conduct the Preliminary Engineering Report and the Kansas Rural Water Association will be hired to complete the Environment Report of the city’s water system.
- City of Edna
$1.2 Million Water and Waste Disposal Loan
Funds will be used to install a gravity collection system and lift station to replace an area of the city currently served by failing individual septic tanks and grinder pumps.
- City of Moline
$9,500 Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities & Households Grant
Funds will be used to pay an engineering firm to conduct the Preliminary Engineering Report and the Kansas Rural Water Association will be hired to complete the Environment Report of the city’s water infrastructure.
- City of Ozawkie
$3.8 Million Water and Waste Disposal Loan
Funds will be used to rehabilitate approximately 40,980 linear feet of waste disposal pipelines and repairing 38 manholes.
- City of Severy
$310,000 Water and Waste Disposal Loan and $211,000 Water and Waste Disposal Grant
Funds will be used to install approximately 14,800 feet of water lines.
- City of Williamsburg
$24,000 Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant
Funds will be used to pay an engineering firm to conduct the Preliminary Engineering Report and the Kansas Rural Water Association will be hired to complete the Environment Report of the city’s waste water system.
- Doniphan County Rural Water District #6
$588,000 Water and Waste Disposal Loan and $973,000 Water and Waste Disposal Grant
Funds will be used to develop a new rural water district that serves 240 users, which will require 112 miles of water distribution lines and construction of a 150,000 gallon steel standpipe.
- Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 25
$3 Million Water and Waste Disposal Loan
Funds will be used to construct a reverse osmosis water treatment plant, a 250,000 gallon elevated water storage tank, a booster pump station, as well as developing three new wells and installing approximately 33 miles of water lines.
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for loans and grants to build rural water infrastructure. Applications may be completed online through RDAPPLY, a new electronic filing system, and at state and local Rural Development offices. Public entities (counties, townships and communities), non-profit organizations and tribal communities with a population of 10,000 or less are eligible to apply. Interest rates for this program are at historically low levels, ranging from 2 percent to 3.25 percent. Loan terms can be up to 40 years. For more information, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rd-apply.
USDA, through its Rural Development 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 more than $213 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 America.
Further information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by calling (785) 271-2700, or by visiting the agency’s website at http://www.rd.usda.gov/ks