WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director Diana Smith today announced that USDA is investing nearly $642 million to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal and stormwater drainage for people in 41 states including Louisiana.
“These investments are strengthening critical water infrastructure in Louisiana,” said Smith. “The USDA, under the Biden-Harris Administration, is investing in modernizing rural infrastructure to improve the quality of life for residents and promote economic growth.”
Strengthening Rural Water Infrastructure
The USDA Rural Development invests through the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants and Solid Waste Management Grants programs.
The agency is helping state and local governments, private nonprofits, and federally recognized Tribes build or improve rural wastewater systems. For example, in Louisiana:
Bellwood Water Systems in Provencal, LA, received a $296,000 grant to construct a new office/treatment building, install a disinfection by-product treatment system, replace the tube pump assemblies, and demolish obsolete facilities. This investment will improve the drinking water by reducing the amount of disinfection by-products.
"It has been a pleasure to be involved in this process with Rural Development Louisiana. This new water system upgrade will improve residents' water quality after replacing the over twenty-year-old system." said William Jenkins, President of Bellwood Water System, in Provencal, LA.
Funding will help people living in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virgina and Wisconsin.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas.
For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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