More than $2.93 million in loan and grant funding has been awarded to three rural Mississippi communities to improve water systems.
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith announced the USDA Rural Development approved Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program awards for Coahoma County Utility District #2, Ingomar Water Association, Inc. in Union County, and Clara Water Association, Inc. in Wayne County.
“This grant program is funded specifically to help rural communities provide safe and reliable water service to residents and businesses,’ said Hyde-Smith. “These grants are useful because rural communities often do not have the economic base needed to repair, maintain, or improve their systems. “I truly appreciate the work of USDA Rural Development operations in Mississippi to direct this assistance to our state.”
The three Mississippi projects are among 40 awards in 20 states approved for release on Monday.
“USDA Rural Development’s mission is to enhance the quality of life and economic opportunities for rural Mississippians, and assisting in the finance and development of water infrastructure is a key component of achieving this mission,” said John Rounsaville, State Director for USDA Rural Development in Mississippi. “We greatly appreciate the ongoing support and leadership of Senator Hyde-Smith and the congressional delegation, which enables rural communities to benefit from these resources.”
The Coahoma County Utility District #2 will use a $580,000 low-interest loan and $449,000 grant to install a new 300-gallon-per-minute water supply well, a 30,000-gallon pressure tank, a new concrete block well house, a new emergency standby generator, and new automatic read meters.
The Ingomar Water Association, Inc. will use a $229,000 loan to continue water service improvements by upgrading more than 26,000 linear feet of service lines to residential and non-residential customers. New automatic read meters will be installed. The association received a $903,000 loan in August 2018 to begin these upgrades.
The Clara Water Association, Inc. will use a 40-year, low-interest $1,134,100 loan to ensure reliable water service by replacing aging infrastructure with two water supply wells and associated water transmission mains, as well as installing a backup generator for the wells. This project would help the association comply with backup power and water supply requirements.
