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NEWS RELEASE 1303
SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka,
KS 66604-4040 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 2, 2004
Contact - Harold Alford (785) 271-2701
Linn
County Rural Water District
Receives $5.05 Million For System Improvements
From USDA Rural Development
Topeka, KS – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback and U.S. Congressman Jim Ryun joined USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks today in announcing that Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 13 (PWWSD #13), located in Linn County, Kansas, has received approval for $5.05 million in funding from the Agency’s Water and Waste Disposal Program for improvements to the District’s water system. The funding will be used in the second phase of PWWSD #13’s efforts to upgrade the water supply for
8,600 Linn County residents.
“USDA Rural Development’s Water & Waste Disposal Program helps communities keep pace with the needs of their citizens to ensure Kansans have access to a clean, safe and reliable water source. This important water program promotes the economic growth of the whole area, supporting new jobs for the region and enhancing the quality of life for the residents of Linn County,” said State Director Banks.
The funding announced today will allow PWWSD #13 to develop a 200 acre reservoir, construct a treatment plant, three water towers, six booster pump stations, and install approximately 107 miles of transmission lines. Following the third phase of the system upgrades, 7 cities and 5 rural water districts are expected to be served.
In today’s announcement, Senator Sam Brownback commented “The Public Wholesale Water Supply project will help ensure a safe and reliable supply of clean water for these communities, and is a crucial part of their future economic development. I am pleased this project will now be able to move forward.”
Congressman Jim Ryun added, “This loan and grant award is evidence that with perseverance, good things happen. I was very concerned and began working for a solution when I was notified that Kansans in Public Wholesale Water Supply District #13 did not have quality drinking water. Today that work has paid off. Now families in cities like Blue Mound, Mound City, and Parker, Kansas will no longer have to worry about whether the drinking water is safe for their children.”
During today’s announcement, State Director Banks also thanked the Kansas Congressional Delegation, especially Senators Brownback and Roberts, along with Congressman Ryun, for their support of this and the many other USDA Rural Development programs that benefit Kansas.
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 a venture capital entity, the Agency provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure in rural America.
For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development programs, individuals may call the Agency's state headquarters at 785-271-2702 or log onto the state’s Agency’s website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks
USDA Rural Development – Committed to the future of rural communities.
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