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NEWS RELEASE 1303
SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka,
KS 66604-4040 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 21, 2005
Contact - Harold Alford (785) 271-2701
Approved By USDA Rural Development
Topeka, KS – USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks announced today that the Agency has approved $3,340,800 in Fiscal Year 2005 funding for nine rural water service and sewer projects serving Kansas. The approved funding, split between $2,528,500 in loans and $812,300 in grants, will support the construction and/or completion of nine important infrastructure projects that will provide long-term benefits to over 2,000 Kansans living in nine communities or service areas.
“USDA Rural Development’s Water & Waste Disposal Program is one of the most important community and economic development efforts this Agency undertakes. These USDA funds, combined with the Agency’s helpful technical assistance which supports local leadership, helps make these critically needed services a reality. It is important that rural Kansans keep pace with their basic need to have access to safe and reliable water sources. Additionally, this valuable USDA program promotes economic growth and enhances the quality of life for the area residents served by these projects and all of Kansas,” commented State Director Banks.
The six new construction projects approved for funding by USDA Rural Development follow:
Brookville, KS - $570,000 ($156,100 direct loan and $413,900 grant) The project, benefiting 273 residents, will serve the water needs of Brookville, replacing approximately 32,600 feet of existing water lines, installing 17 fire hydrants, replacing 110 water meters, and constructing a new 75,000 gallon water tower. USDA Rural Development funding will be complemented with a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant.
Hamilton County (KS) Rural Water District # 1 - $170,000 (direct loan) Funding of this project, which will benefit over 100 rural Hamilton County residents, will be used for sandblasting and painting the existing water storage standpipe and installing new pumps to stabilize the iron bacteria in the water wells.
Jefferson County (KS) [Lakewood Hills Improvement District] - $656,600 (direct loan) Funding of this project, representing the third and final phase of this wastewater service initiative, will help connect the remaining 81 rural families to the new centralized sewer system. Upon completion of this project, the District will discontinue use of the existing sewage holding tanks, the new system will provide a more effective and environmentally safe method of moving waste from the homes to the District’s treatment plant. USDA Rural Development funding will be complemented with a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant.
Kanorado, KS - $608,900 ($313,900 direct loan and $295,000 grant) This project, benefiting 235 Kanorado residents, will serve the City’s water needs by helping to replace over 80% of the community’s existing water lines, along with installing 100 meters and 18 fire hydrants. The project will also include reworking two wells, which includes new pumps, motors and controls, modifying the chlorination treatment process, and constructing new pump houses around the two wells. USDA Rural Development funding will be combined with a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant.
Raymond , KS - $73,600 (direct loan) This project will replace a lift station and make improvements to one cell of the City’s lagoon system benefiting 133 rural residents. USDA Rural Development funding will be leveraged with a $60,000 Community Development Block Grant.
Sedgwick County (KS) Rural Water District No. 1 - $450,000 (guaranteed loan) Funding of this project, benefiting 430 users, will be used to install 4” and 2” water lines to loop the existing system to provide better water pressure and solve a chlorine residual problem. Additionally, the two existing water storage standpipes will be repainted. First State Bank & Trust of Clearwater , Kansas will originate the loan to the District. USDA Rural Development will guarantee the loan provided by the bank.
Funding approved by USDA Rural Development to complete the following three projects follows:
Anderson County (KS) Sewer District #1 - $46,000 (direct loan) Funding to complete a sewer project started in August 2002, serving 166 rural residents.
Crawford County (KS) Sewer District #4 - $315,700 ($212,300 direct loan & $103,400 grant) Funding to complete a sewer project started in December 2001, serving 294 rural residents.
Peabody , KS- $450,000 (direct loan) Funding to complete a sewer project started in July 2003, serving over 1200 rural residents.
During the announcement, State Director Banks thanked the Kansas Congressional Delegation for their continued support of the Agency’s Water & Waste Disposal Program, along with the many other USDA Rural Development programs. “Over the past fifteen years alone, the Agency’s Water & Waste Disposal Program has benefited more than 230,000 rural Kansans, contributing over $3.5 billion in added growth to the Sunflower State ’s economy. We should all thank our U.S. Senators and Representatives for supporting this benefit to the entire State,” remarked Banks.
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, interested parties may call the Agency’s state headquarters at 785-271-2702 or log onto the state’s USDA Rural Development website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks
USDA Rural Development – Committed to the Future of Rural Communities.
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