U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) New York State Director Brian Murray announced more than $39 million in loan and grant funding across nine projects to help strengthen rural infrastructure and create good paying jobs. This is part of a national announcement where USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $6.3 billion in rural and Tribal communities across 44 states.
“The Biden-Harris Administration invests in rural America, because we know strong communities are rooted in their people,” Murray said. “These investments will build modern infrastructure that will attract employers to the nation’s smallest towns and most remote communities, creating jobs, vibrant Main Streets, and lasting economic growth for the people who live there.”
More than 200 projects are being financed to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure in rural places, growing the American economy from the middle out and bottom up.
Strengthening Rural Water Infrastructure
USDA is also investing nearly $642 million today to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal and storm water drainage for people in 41 states.
The Department is making the investments through the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program and the Solid Waste Management Grants program.
The agency is helping state and local governments, private nonprofits and federally recognized Tribes build or improve rural wastewater systems.
Projects in New York include:
- Town of Rush This Rural Development investment of $5.1 million in loan funding and $500,000 in grant funding will be used to construct a new water district in the Town of Rush, which is located in Monroe County, New York. This project will benefit town residents by providing public water and will improve the health, welfare, and safety of the residents.
- Village of New Berlin This Rural Development investment of $7.4 million in loan funding and $1.5 million in grant funding will be used to construct water system improvements in the Village of New Berlin, which is located in Chenango County, New York. This project will benefit the village residents by improving their public water and will improve the health, welfare and safety of the residents.
- Village of Mexico This Rural Development investment of $9.5 million in loan funding will be used to improve the public water system in the Village of Mexico, which is located in Oswego County, New York. This project will benefit residents by replacing degraded water main and updating the public water source and treatment systems which will improve the health, welfare, and safety of the residents. This project will also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the village's water system.
- Town of Hounsfield This Rural Development investment of $3.4 million in loan funding will be used to construct new water lines in the Town of Hounsfield, which is located in Jefferson County, New York. This project will benefit town residents by providing new water service and will improve the health, welfare, and safety of the residents. This project will also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the town's water infrastructure.
- Town of Pomfret This Rural Development investment of $4.7 million in loan funding will be used to expand public water service in an existing water district within the Town of Pomfret, which is located in Chautauqua County, New York. This project will provide public water service to town residents, improving the health, welfare, and safety of the residents. This project will also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the water district.
Funding under both programs 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. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and healthcare; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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