USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode today announced two Water and Environmental Program projects in Rhea County. Rural Development funds will be used to purchase a new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System and a de-gassing tower.
“The purchase of the new equipment will enable the utility districts in Rhea County to better serve their customers,” Goode said. Ensuring communities have safe drinking water has always been a priority of Rural Development.”
The two WEP project recipients announced are:
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Watts Bar Utility District
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North Utility District of Rhea County
Watts Bar Utility District received $1.05 million in loan funds and $350,000 in grant funds to replace the old SCADA system to remotely operate the plant and control booster stations based on water levels.
North Utility District of Rhea County will use a $45,000 grant to purchase a de-gassing tower to rid the raw water of excess gas.
Rhea County is one of 53 counties in Tennessee designated for support under USDA’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative, which aims to increase investments in rural communities through intensive outreach and strong partnerships with community leaders, businesses, foundations and other groups that are working to combat persistent poverty.
USDA Rural Development is moving investments to rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty. Since 2009, the agency has assisted more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 230 communities in all 95 counties of Tennessee, investing more than $6.6 billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees, and grants.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Southeastern Tennessee contact the Chattanooga Area Office at 423-756-2239. Visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.