Today U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the City of Unadilla, Georgia announced plans for significant wastewater treatment facility improvements that will be funded with USDA’s Water and Wastewater Disposal Loan and Grant program.
“Wastewater treatment infrastructure is integral to the public health and safety as well as the economic vitality of small towns," said Jill Stuckey, USDA Rural Development Georgia State Director.
This $9,666,000 loan and $3,004,000 grant project will be used to correct sewage spills by installing an Inflow and Infiltration reduction system and upgrading the wastewater treatment facility. Daily treatment capacity will increase from 0.54 MGD (millions of gallons per day) to 1.25 MGD.
The USDA Water and Wastewater Disposal Loan and Grant program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities extend and improve water and waste treatment facilities that serve local households and businesses. Good practices can save tax dollars, improve the natural environment, and help manufacturers and businesses to locate or expand operations.
Rural communities seeking funding for water and wastewater infrastructure are invited to contact the Rural Development Georgia Community Programs Division for further information at (706) 546-2171.
Since 2009, nationwide, USDA Rural Development has invested $13.5 billion for 5,739 water and waste infrastructure projects, benefiting 19.1 million rural residents; invested nearly $13 billion to start or expand nearly 112,000 rural businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 9,200 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. USDA also has invested $31.3 billion in 963 electric projects that have financed more than 185,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving 4.6 million rural residents. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.