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USDA Invests in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements in North Carolina

Name
Garland Burnette
City
Raleigh
Release Date

Rural Development State Director for North Carolina Robert Hosford today announced that USDA is investing $9.7 million to improve rural water infrastructure in North Carolina.

    “Safe and reliable water infrastructure is vital to the prosperity of rural North Carolina,” said Hosford.  “USDA is committed to investing in rural communities to help spur economic growth.”

   USDA is providing the funding through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Eligible applicants include rural cities, towns and water districts. The funds can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.

   USDA is announcing the following projects in North Carolina today.  

  • The city of Bessemer City is receiving a $4,865,000 loan and a $3,165,000 grant to improve the city's water treatment plant and related facilities. The city will add water and sewer line and install 12 manholes along an unstable stream bed to replace the deteriorated sewer line. The improvements will increase the reliability of the water treatment process and improve water quality.
  •  The town of Rosman will use a $1,046,000 loan and $625,000 grant to construct a new 250,000-gallon elevated water tank, install valve vault and control improvements to two existing wells, and replace 100 water meters, inoperable valves and hydrants, and approximately 15 percent of water lines. The project will reduce a large health and sanitary, operational and financial risk to the system by addressing the unaccounted water loss issue related to aging infrastructure. The project will specifically benefit 348 residential users, 29 commercial users, five institutional users, and two industrial users.

   USDA awarded nearly $1.8 billion for Water and Environmental Program loans and grants during fiscal year 2019. View the interactive RD Apply tool or contact one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices for application or eligibility information.

   In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

   To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).

   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.