U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA Provides Financing to Medicine Lodge for Water System Improvements

Name
Jessica Bowser
City
Topeka
Release Date

USDA Rural Development State Director in Kansas, Patty Clark, announced that the city of Medicine Lodge has received a $500,000 Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant to develop a new water source and construct water system improvements.

USDA’s Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants are awarded to help eligible communities prepare for, or recover from, an emergency that threatens water availability and water quality in their community.

 

According to Clark, this grant will help Medicine Lodge mitigate the impacts of the prolonged drought affecting western Kansas and the drought’s impact on the aquifers that provide water to western Kansas communities.

 

The city of Medicine Lodge is planning to construct two new water wells that will replace five water wells that were depleted because of declining water tables.  Approximately 2,900 feet of water lines will be installed to connect the new wells to the city’s existing water distribution system. This project also received a $500,000 grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant.

 

“The past six years Medicine Lodge has suffered from drought conditions that caused the city to search for a new water source,” said Medicine Lodge City Administrator Jeff Porter. “USDA Rural Development funding allowed the city to leverage funds for installing a new water system that will provide the city with a dependable water supply.”

 

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $210.5 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

 

Further information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by calling (785) 271-2700, or by visiting the agency’s website at http://www.rd.usda.gov/ks