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USDA Supports Water System for Henderson

Name
Kathy Beisner
City
Henderson
Release Date

 

USDA Supports Water System for Henderson

    Henderson, Md., April 22, 2015 – Agriculture Under Secretary for USDA Rural Development Lisa Mensah today celebrated Earth Day by announcing support for the Town of Henderson.

   “Our Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant program is one of Rural Development’s most special programs because it provides rural towns with help when they need it most,” Mensah said.  “For Henderson, the emergency came in the form of record freezing temperatures last February that lead to burst pipes and other complications.  This is a special day for USDA; Henderson is the first recipient of this program in Maryland.”                                                 

  Each year, USDA Rural Development celebrates Earth Day by providing funding for water and wastewater infrastructure projects through Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program (WEP).  Since the beginning of the Obama Administration USDA Rural Development has invested more than $177 million in water and wastewater infrastructure in Maryland.

   There was a high demand on the Henderson water system this winter when frozen pipes burst and left this small community of 44 homes without water.   The town has taken temporary measures to get their water flowing again, but the cost of a permanent fix was out of reach.  USDA Rural Development is providing $175,000 in grant funds to get the system back into compliance.

   Following the announcement in Henderson, Under Secretary Mensah visited the Greensboro Elementary School to talk to the students about the importance of Earth Day and USDA’s role in the communities that they call home.

    Earth Day is observed annually on April 22 to raise awareness about what individuals can do to protect vital natural resources and safeguard the environment. Since the first Earth Day celebration in 1970, the event has greatly expanded. Today, citizens and governments in more than 195 countries participate in Earth Day events.

   President Obama’s historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.