State Director for Rural Development John Rounsaville today announced that USDA is investing $116 million to help rebuild and improve rural water infrastructure for 171,000 rural Americans, with nearly $5 million being awarded to projects in Mississippi.
“It’s crucial that rural communities have access to safe and reliable sources of water,” said Rounsaville. “We’ve funded some great projects that will be used to help thousands of rural Mississippians, and hopefully we’ll continue to see more applications submitted so more communities can take advantage of our programs.”
USDA is working with local partners to provide financing for 49 water and environmental infrastructure projects. The funding is being provided through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. It can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. Eligible communities and water districts can apply online on the interactive RD Apply tool or through one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices.
One investment USDA is funding is in the Sessums Water Association in Oktibbeha County. The Sessums Water Association received a loan of $647,000 and a grant of $499,000, which will be used to construct a backup water supply well. This new well will improve the water quality and system pressure while providing a long-term, reliable water source for the system's 1,123 residents.
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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