The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Virginia Rural Development office today announced it has approved a $2 million low-interest direct loan and a $612,800 grant for Coeburn that will help the town improve its water system operations.
“Ensuring there is a reliable water supply in rural Virginia is important,” said Basil Gooden, Ph.D., Virginia’s USDA Rural Development State Director. “We work with towns like Coeburn across Virginia to help find solutions to 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 make improvements to the town’s existing water system. Construction includes the replacement of approximately 34,800 linear feet of asbestos-cement water line; replacement of pump stations; improvements to the existing treatment system; and building improvements.
This project will correct an existing health hazard and reduce boil water notices by replacing 40- to 50-year-old pipes, reducing sediment levels in the water supply, and improving water color.
The system serves approximately 1,400 residential and 160 commercial users.
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 award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan.
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.