Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today highlighted U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments in Fiscal Year 2017 that will help construct or improve infrastructure and boost economic growth in rural communities.
The $40 million investment includes an investment in Sweetwater, Tennessee. The city of Sweetwater received $477,700 to help construct an administration building and a warehouse for storage of materials. The administration building will serve as a location for customers to pay their bills, and house the gas, electric, sewer and water departments.
“We are happy to be able to assist the city of Sweetwater with the new building project,” Tennessee State Director Jim Tracy said. “Investments such as this one will improve the quality of life and make it easier for citizens to do business with the utility departments.”
In Fiscal Year 2017, USDA used funding from the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program to invest more than $40 million in 31 projects to repair, enhance or build infrastructure. These investments were for projects such as surface transportation, aviation, ports, water and storm water resources, energy production and generation, and electricity transmission. They will benefit nearly 265,000 residents.
In addition to the project in Sweetwater, the investments are supporting projects in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Vermont and Wyoming.
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 services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information on USDA Rural Development programs in East Tennessee, contact the Knoxville Area Office at 865.523.3338 visit www.rd.usda.gov/TN.