Funding Will Improve Water Infrastructure for the Yomba Shoshone Tribe of USDA’s Rural Partners Network
LAS VEGAS, March 12, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA Rural Development Nevada State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad today announced that USDA is investing in water infrastructure for the Yomba Shoshone Tribe in Nevada, which is part of USDA’s Rural Partners Network. The new water tank, water lines, fire hydrants, and other improvements will provide the community with clean drinking water and safe and sanitary wastewater systems.
The announcement was made at the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s Reservation Economic Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“When we invest in modern infrastructure for people who live in Tribal communities, we create a ripple effect that impacts everyone,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is committed to building our economy from the middle out and bottom up by bringing high-speed internet, clean water and critical infrastructure to people in small towns and communities everywhere, especially in places that have been underserved for far too long.”
“We are proud to announce this investment in the Yomba Shoshone Tribe,” said Ingvoldstad. “As a part of our Rural Partners Network in Nevada, we listen to and engage with Tribal members, holding meetings and seminars to ensure our work is centered around the most pressing needs of the community. With construction beginning two weeks ago, we are one step closer to long-term, sustainable community health and safety for the Yomba Shoshone Tribe, on their terms.”
The project is being financed through the Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands Program.
This funding will advance President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy, create jobs and spur economic growth across the nation, in even the most remote parts of the country.
The Yomba Shoshone Tribe in Nevada, a participant of USDA’s Rural Partners Network, will use a $772,000 grant to make water infrastructure improvements. Funding will be used to replace a water tank, install water lines and fire hydrants, and make other improvements to increase efficiency and resiliency of the Tribe’s water system. These improvements will enable homes and buildings in the community to have access to safer water. The project is an example of how this alliance of federal partners is helping communities access government resources to build critical infrastructure and support long-term economic growth where it’s needed most.
This project will ensure access to modern water infrastructure that will alleviate health risks for generations to come.
Background
The Rural Partners Network (RPN) is a USDA-led alliance of federal agencies and commissions working directly with rural communities to access government funding resources to create jobs, build infrastructure and support long-term economic growth. RPN does this by employing community liaisons that live and work alongside the people in these communities.
Since RPN’s launch in April 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration has provided approximately $2.6 billion to carry out a variety of economic development projects in RPN communities across 10 states and Puerto Rico. Federal agencies partnering with USDA have also provided more than $80 million to RPN communities during that same period.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.