Contact: Jessica Mancel | (715) 345-7669 | jessica.mancel@wi.usda.gov

STEVENS POINT, Wis., Oct. 17, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Frank Frassetto announced that USDA is investing $201 million to improve rural water infrastructure in 31 states.

“Safe and reliable water infrastructure is critical to the health, safety and economic vitality of rural Wisconsin,” Frassetto said. “USDA is committed to partnering with rural communities to help them build and repair their infrastructure that allows local recourses to be used elsewhere to release their economic potential. Because when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

USDA is providing the funding through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Eligible applicants include rural cities, towns and water districts. The funds can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.

USDA is announcing investments today in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

In Wisconsin,

  • The Village of Sister Bay is receiving a $3.4 million loan and a $1.6 million grant to upgrade their Wastewater Treatment Facility. The current facility was built in 1990 so this project will expand their facility and complete equipment efficiencies. This facility will serve 1,200 residents in the village of Sister Bay and part of the town of Liberty Grove.
  • The Village of Maine is receiving a $515,000 loan and a $965,000 grant along with $634,000 in Community Development Block Grant partner assistance to upgrade their wastewater collection system. Deteriorating manholes will be repaired or replaced and a 50-year-old lift station will be relocated. Sewers on the east side of the village will be replaced with new PVC piping and the manholes will be replaced with ones made from precast concrete. These improvements will significantly decrease infiltration and inflow into the collection system. The Village previously received USDA funding in 2017 in the amount of $4 million to construct new wells and properly size their water district to address economic strains. These improvements will serve 250 residents.

Wisconsin USDA Rural Development awarded $58.2 million for Water and Environmental Program loans and grants during fiscal year 2019. View the interactive RD Apply tool or contact our state office for an application or eligibility information.

In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs 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 areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/wi.

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