USDA Rural Development Community Programs Director in Kan., Sháne Hastings, announced that the agency is investing $15.7 million in 12 projects to update water and wastewater infrastructure throughout Kansas.
“USDA Rural Development is partnering with rural Kansas communities to improve water and wastewater infrastructure, and without the investment of the federal government into these infrastructure projects, residents would be paying a great deal more on their monthly water and sewer bills,” said Hastings. “The agency is also asking communities to look at regional water and wastewater systems to help reduce costs and improve efficiencies.”
USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) provide loans, grants and loan guarantees for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste and storm drainage facilities in rural areas and cities and towns of 10,000 or less.
USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Program projects in Kansas include:
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City of Caney
$13,000 Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant
Funds will be used to pay for completion of the preliminary engineering report and environmental review report on the city’s current wastewater system.
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City of Cambridge
$9,000 Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant
Funds will be used to pay for completion of the preliminary engineering report and environmental review report on the city’s current water system.
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City of Colony
$307,000 loan
Funds will be used to replace and update the city’s wastewater lines.
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City of Cuba
$24,000 loan and $19,000 grant
Funds will be used to complete the city’s water distribution system project.
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City of Elk City
$356,000 loan and $386,000 grant
Funds will be used to replace and update the city’s water infrastructure.
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City of Hiawatha
$3.5 million loan
Funds will be used to construct a new water treatment plant and install approximately 7,000 feet of water lines.
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City of Hiawatha
$93,000 loan
Funds will be used to complete the rehabilitation of the city’s wastewater collection system.
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City of Moline
$1.571 million loan and a $1.4565 million grant
Funds will be used to replace and update the city’s water infrastructure.
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City of Neodesha
$30,000 Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant
Funds will be used to pay for completion of the preliminary engineering report and environmental review report on the city’s current water system.
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City of Pleasanton
$69,000 loan
Funds will be used to purchase additional meters to complete the city’s water infrastructure project.
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City of Williamsburg
$1.264 million loan and a $1.094 million grant
Funds will be used to replace and update the city’s wastewater lines.
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Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 27, Brown County
$2.497 million loan and $1.0545 million grant
Funds will be used to install 17 miles of water lines, construct three groundwater wells and an elevated storage tank, and build a facility for the water treatment equipment.
USDA Rural Development is currently accepting applications for loans and grants to build rural water infrastructure. Applications may be completed online through RDAPPLY, a new electronic filing system, and at state and local Rural Development offices. Public entities (counties, townships and communities), non-profit organizations and tribal communities with a population of 10,000 or less are eligible to apply. Interest rates for this program are at historically low levels. Loan terms can be up to 40 years. For more information, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rd-apply.
In 2015, USDA Rural Development invested $58 million through 32 infrastructure projects to provide reliable and clean drinking water, waste treatment systems, electrical power and telecommunications services in rural communities throughout Kansas.
More information on USDA Water and Environmental Programs is available by visiting www.rd.usda.gov/ks, or by contacting a USDA Rural Development Community Programs Specialist:
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David Barber, Hays Office, 785-628-3081, Ext. 444, david.barber@ks.usda.gov
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Michael Billings, Iola Office, 620-380-3109, michael.billings@ks.usda.gov
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Tom Finger, Newton Office, 316-282-3476, tom.finger@ks.usda.gov
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Chelsea Morris, Newton Office, 316-282-3474, chelsea.morris@ks.usda.gov
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Dan Fischer, Topeka Office, 785-271-2737, dan.fischer@ks.usda.gov