Funding will Benefit 2,621 Rural Montanans on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation
The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $520,000 to modernize critical water infrastructure in Wolf Point.
“Rural communities depend on safe water and wastewater systems to operate and survive,” Montana State Director Charles Robison said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural Montana thrives, all of Montana thrives.”
The $109,000 loan and $411,000 in grants will be used to finance improvements to the City of Wolf Point’s current water system. The existing mains were installed in 1918 and 1956 and need to be replaced. The water mains have reached the end of their lifespan as they are experiencing leaks, deterioration and corrosion. The updates will provide safe and clean drinking water to the residents of Wolf Point.
“As with many cities in the United States, Wolf Point is dealing daily with an aged water system. Rising costs for repairs, limited funding opportunities and less users is shifting the cost to less and less people,” Wolf Point Mayor Chris Dschaak said. “USDA Rural Development's grant and loan will allow Wolf Point to go forward on a huge water main replacement that effects half the City, two of our schools and all of Main Street. Wolf Point would have never been able to move forward so soon without the influx of money from USDA Rural Development.”
Background:
USDA is funding 161 projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. These investments will benefit 470,000 residents.
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 the Montana 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/mt.
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.