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Bigelow to Build New Wastewater Treatment System Project receives over $1.3 million from USDA Rural Development BIGELOW, Minn., April 24 – Curtis Anderson, Deputy Administrator of the Rural Utilities programs for USDA Rural Development and Steve Wenzel, USDA Rural Development Minnesota State Director, visited the city of Bigelow today for a special Earth Day event. The pair announced that Bigelow will receive a $1,347,000 loan/grant package from USDA Rural Development to build a new gravity collection system and stabilization ponds to treat its wastewater. The funding comes in the form of a $680,000 loan and a $667,000 grant. The Water Infrastructure Fund, a state-managed water funding program, contributed a matching grant. “The city of Bigelow is to be applauded for taking the action to secure funds to bring their sanitary wastewater system to a standard that will improve both water quality and pollution control,” Anderson said. “The improved system will help preserve the environment for future generations.” U.S. Congressman Gil Gutknecht’s office was also present at the event. Currently, Bigelow treats wastewater with individual septic systems that are failing to meet pollution control standards. The new system will treat the city’s wastewater before being disposed in a controlled discharge each spring and fall. Area water quality will improve and pollution violations will be removed. Rural Development is recognizing four wastewater treatment projects in Minnesota for Earth Day. A total of $3,323,000 was announced for projects in Bigelow, Huntley, Hatfield and Kent. “Water quality is a problem for some rural Minnesota communities,” Wenzel said. “We can continue to chip away at the problem with projects like this. President Bush’s rural policies have provided the necessary resources to address these problems. Congressman Gutknecht has also works closely with our office on wastewater treatment issue. It’s up to rural leaders like those in Bigelow to adequately use these resources.” Since 2001, USDA Rural Development has invested about $2.5 billion throughout Minnesota. The agency's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development provides investment and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure For more information on USDA Rural Development, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/mn, or call the office in Faribault (507) 334-2206 or Austin (507) 437-8247.
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