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United States Department
of Agriculture • Rural Development
3001 Coolidge Rd. • 2nd Floor North • Suite 200 • East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: (517) 324-5204 • Fax: (517) 324-5225 •
alec.lloyd@mi.usda.gov
Contact: Alec Lloyd
(517) 324-5204
USDA Rural Development Marks Phase II of Buena Vista Township Sewer Project on Earth Day
EAST LANSING, April 22, 2011 – U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development Director for Michigan James Turner and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture Doug O’Brien today joined local officials in commemorating Earth Day and the start of Phase II of the Buena Vista Township sewer project.
“America will win the future by out-building, out-educating and out-innovating the world,” O'Brien said. “The Obama Administration is committed to the residents and business owners of Buena Vista Township in building the infrastructure needed to protect our environment and ensure clean water for future generations.”
The project was initially funded as an Earth Day project in 2008 with a $7,825,000 loan and an additional $620,000 grant was awarded in 2009. Phase I resulted in the repair of more than 63,000 lineal feet of pipe and the installation of a radio reading system to monitor usage and lower personnel costs. This phase was substantially complete by May 2010.
Phase II will see continued refurbishment and rehabilitation of 45,500 linear feet of the remaining defective sewer pipe and more than 200 manholes, the construction of an off-site excess flow basin, construction of a pump station, and improvements at the wastewater treatment plant. The system will serve 2,349 residential and 177 commercial customers and will bring the township into compliance with environmental regulations regarding pollutant discharges.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in Washington, D.C, and 500 state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $134 billion in loans and loan guarantees.
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