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Outline of Need:
The small community of Palo Verde Mountain, a town out in the Arizona desert just outside of Maricopa, does not have water service. Residents drive 20 miles to Stanfield in harsh heat to fill water containers and haul them back home.
How Rural Development Helped:
However, the Palo Verde Mountain Water Co-op recently received a $120,000 grant from USDA Rural Development for a new well, storage tank, and standpipe for area residents. The grant was made possible through the Water 2000 initiative, which is administered at USDA by the Rural Development mission area's Utilities Programs. The Water 2000 initiative seeks to provide clean, safe, and affordable drinking water to all rural homes by the year 2000.
The Results:
In an environment with desert heat and little shade, a water well will dramatically change the lives of Palo Verde Mountain residents. Additionally, since the Water Co-op received a grant, this small, economically disadvantaged colonia community will not have to struggle with a financial obligation in order to provide water to residents.
This is just one example of how USDA Rural Development can re-invigorate the economies of rural communities. In addition to the Utilities Programs water and wastewater program, Rural Development also provides financing for housing and infrastructure projects like essential community facilities projects and business projects to rural cities and towns.
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