USDA Rural Development: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announces Recovery Act funding to improve water system infrastructure, health and sanitation in rural communities

CONTACT: Dane Henshall

(202) 260-0996

WASHINGTON D.C- SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 – – – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for 89 projects to protect public health and the environment by improving water quality and public sanitation services in 32 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Vilsack made the national announcement while touring a water system improvement project funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act).

“Investments in water and wastewater projects like this one in Berlin will help deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment throughout rural America,” Vilsack said. “These projects advance the Obama Administration’s economic recovery goals to provide reliable services in rural America. They create jobs and will support more job creation by supporting economic development initiatives.”

Vilsack toured the waste water treatment plant at a ceremony in Berlin – a small rural community on Maryland’s eastern shore. The town received an $11.8 million award Recovery Act award in September, 2009 to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility. Celebrations like today’s in Berlin will continue across the country as hundreds of Recovery Act projects continue to bring economic development opportunities to local communities.

Secretary Vilsack said today’s announcement provides $445.3 million for 89 water and wastewater infrastructure projects in local communities through the Recovery Act. Two of the projects announced today are also in Maryland and total about $20 million. To date, USDA has announced $3.26 billion in Recovery Act funds for 884 water and environmental projects across the nation.

For example, in rural Wisconsin, Village of Rudolph Regional Wastewater Pump Station and Force-main project has been selected to receive a $1,313,000 loan and a $1,022,000 grant to provide improved regional treatment of wastewater from the Village at the City of Wisconsin Rapids Wastewater Treatment Facility. The major components of this plan include the construction of a new wastewater pump station at the existing site, the installation of a new generator for backup power, and a force-main construction along State Highway 34 to the City of Wisconsin Rapids wastewater collection system. The existing Village-owned wastewater lagoons will be abandoned and transformed into a wildlife habitat.

In Langlade County, the to the Elcho Sanitary District has been selected to receive a $596,000 loan and a $571,000 grant to improve the capacity and reliability of the water system to provide adequate water supply to more than 1,000 customers. The Elcho Sanitary District water distribution system needs to be upgraded to maintain the minimum standards of service for compliance with Wisconsin-DNR regulations. The project will include replacing undersized mains, repairing breaks and leaks, replacing outdated fire hydrants, the addition of a new elevated tank to provide increased usable storage, and a new pump for higher pressure. The project is also receiving funding from a $487,000 Community Development Block Grant.

President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.

More information about USDA’s Recovery Act efforts is available at http://www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal government’s efforts on the Recovery Act is available at http://www.recovery.gov.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As the lead federal agency for rural development needs, USDA Rural Development returned nearly $744 million dollars this past year to rural Wisconsin communities. Funds are used to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technological infrastructures. Further information on USDA Rural Development programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting the web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/wi.