Additional funding in 44 states will benefit 467,000 rural Americans
U.S. Department of Agriculture Ohio Rural Development State Director David L. Hall today announced Clermont County will benefit from a $5 million investment – among $462 million nationwide – to modernize wastewater infrastructure in Newtonsville and the Little Miami Watershed region.
“Access to safe drinking water and functional wastewater treatment is non-negotiable to the success of rural Ohio communities,” said Hall. “Not only is it necessary for health and wellbeing, it also is a primary driver of rural economic development. Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA continues to be a strong partner with rural communities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
The Clermont County Commissioners will use this funding – a $4 million loan combined with a $1 million grant – to construct a new wastewater treatment plant for unincorporated area of Newtonsville and the adjacent Little Miami Watershed. Newtonsville is part of the East Fork Little Miami River Basin that connects to the Little Miami River, which is protected by a State of Ohio Scenic River designation and also included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The new wastewater treatment plant will help protect the health of 425 rural residents and help bring Newtonsville into Environmental Protection Agency compliance.
With today’s announcement, USDA is funding 161 projects nationwide through its Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. These investments will benefit 467,000 residents. In addition to Ohio, projects are being funded 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, 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.
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