Vermont Business Magazine The town of Fair Haven is getting over $6 million in financing from the USDA to to modernize its wastewater treatment infrastructure. This is part of a $462 million investment by the United States Department of Agriculture to upgrade infrastructure in rural towns and cities nationwide.
“Upgrading the infrastructure that delivers safe drinking water and modern wastewater management facilities will improve public health and drive economic development in our small towns and cities,” Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Bette Brand said.
Beneficiaries of the initiative also include Sanbornville, NH. USDA Rural Development Director for New Hampshire and Vermont, Anthony Linardos, is pleased to see both towns benefit from these essential improvements. “We know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives,” he said. “Modern water systems and clean water are crucial in promoting the health of rural Americans and the success of rural businesses.”
Background:
USDA is funding 161 projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. These investments will benefit 470,000 residents across the United States, including those of Sanbornville, NH, and Fair Haven:
- In Fair Haven, Vermont, a wastewater treatment system with aging components will get a modern upgrade through a $3.72 million loan and $2.65 million grant. Approximately 2,700 people will benefit from this urgently needed project which includes a more efficient processing system, renovations to the operator's building, and installation of a computer-based supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. These improvements will help reduce operating costs, add redundancy and lead to better pollution control for the community.
- The Sanbornville Precinct of Wakefield, New Hampshire will use a $2.9 million loan and a $695,885 grant to replace outdated water system infrastructure dating from the 1930s. This project will resolve health and sanitary issues by upgrading the source pump house facility and replacing 2.3 miles of failing bituminous-coated steel water mains. These improvements will bring the system into compliance with state and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and provide enhanced water quality and reliability for 1,056 residents.
The investments that USDA announced today are being made in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office.
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.
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Source: WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 3, 2020 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)