U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utah State Director Randy Parker today announced that USDA is investing nearly $4 million to help rebuild and improve rural water and wastewater infrastructure in two Utah communities.
“I can’t think of an amenity more central to quality of life and economic development than having clean, reliable water,” Parker said. “Here in the desert we understand water is life, and that’s why USDA partners with rural communities to build water infrastructure which will support their livelihood.”
USDA is supporting investments in two Utah community infrastructure projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. It can be used to finance drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. The following projects are funded:
- Glendale Town Corp is receiving a $868,000 loan and $100,900 grant to make water source and system improvements to the community of Glendale in Kane County. After years of drought, the town now relies on only one major source of water, which requires repairs. This project will improve the entire system and bring it up to operations and safety standards.
- The city of Nephi will use a $781,000 loan and $2 million grant to complete the final phase of a water improvement project, which was initially funded by USDA Rural Development in 2016. This project replaces water distribution lines, constructs new water storage tanks, rehabilitates a well, and builds an additional well for the community in Juab County.
These awards, among others, were announced today by Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett during the Water Pro Conference hosted by the National Rural Water Association. USDA is investing $392 million to help rebuild and improve rural water and wastewater infrastructure in 42 states.
In FY 2018, Congress provided a historic level of funding for water and wastewater infrastructure. The 2018 Omnibus spending bill includes $5.2 billion for USDA loans and grants, up from $1.8 billion in FY 2017. The bill also directs Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to make investments in rural communities with the greatest infrastructure needs.
Eligible rural communities and water districts can apply online for funding to maintain, modernize or build water and wastewater systems. They can visit the interactive RD Apply tool, or they can apply through one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices.
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, visit www.rd.usda.gov.