RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 3, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $22 million to modernize critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in North Carolina rural towns and cities.
"Safe drinking water is essential to all of our lives," said State Director for USDA Rural Development in North Carolina Robert Hosford. "We should not have to go to the store and purchase bottled water to assure we have water that is suitable for consumption. These projects will assure our rural residents have access to clean water every time they turn on their taps."
Background:
USDA is funding eight projects in North Carolina through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. These investments will benefit 72,284 residents. The following are projects being funded under today’s announcement in this state:
- Chowan County is receiving a $4 million loan and $1.9 million grant for the town of Edenton to improve the wastewater treatment system for phase one of two phases of various improvements to its wastewater treatment system. Phase one includes improvements to the lagoon aeration system, headworks, pump station, disinfection system, administration building, and other necessary appurtenances. These improvements will allow the town to become compliant with its non-discharge permit.
- Cleveland County is receiving $872 thousand loan and a $1.5 million grant for the town of Lawndale to provide sanitary sewer service to an area of the town that is currently without sewer service. Many homes in the area depend on individual onsite septic systems which are failing. The proposed project will install approximately 16 thousand linear feet of eight-inch gravity sewer line, 60 manholes, 141 cleanouts, service laterals, and make other upgrades to service 141 additional residences.
- Edgecombe County is receiving $425 thousand loan and a $1.2 million grant for the town Princeville to cover additional proposed project costs. The proposed project is to make various improvements to their water and sewer systems. These improvements include rehabilitation or replacement of seven sewer pump stations, 79 sewer manholes, 40 water valves, 28 thousand linear feet of 8-inch gravity sewer lines, 267 sewer service laterals, replacement of all water meters and emergency interconnection with Edgecombe Water and Sewer District No. 2.
- McDowell County is receiving a $179 thousand loan for the town of Marion to provide additional financing to address significant storm-water management needs due to the emergence of sink holes within the community building park and city hall.
- Moore County is receiving a $1.7 million loan and $4.6 million grant for the town of Carthage to replace the existing interconnection force-main with approximately 31 thousand linear feet of new 16-inch force-main, upgrade the interconnection pump station, replace existing pumps, controls and generators. Funding will also modify the electrical switchgear at two other existing pump stations.
- Polk County is receiving a $973 thousand loan and $980 thousand grant for the town of Columbus to construct a new 500-thousand-gallon ground storage tank with associated site work and piping, 2,430 linear feet of water line, and approximately 2,025 linear feet of sewer line.
- Robeson County is receiving a $766 thousand loan and $1.7 million grant for the town of Red Springs to construct a water treatment plant, improve the three existing water supply wells, improve the water storage tanks sites, and replacement of deteriorated water lines, and necessary appurtenances.
- Warren County is receiving a $228 thousand loan and $733 thousand grant for the town of Warrenton to provide various improvements to the town's water and sewer system infrastructure, plus improvements to the administrative/utility department building.
USDA is funding 161 projects nationwide. These investments will benefit 470,000 residents.
"Upgrading the infrastructure that delivers safe drinking water and modern wastewater management facilities will improve public health and drive economic development in our small towns and cities," Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Bette Brand said. "Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA continues to be a strong partner with rural communities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives."
The investments that USDA announced today are being made in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office.
USDA Rural Development provides 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 areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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