Reliable drinking water coming to Gobey families

04-14-09 - WARTBURG, Tenn.—USDA Rural Development Area Director Jerry Amonett and Morgan County Executive Becky Ruppe joined Plateau Utility District (PUD) General Manager Mike Monroe today to announce federal funding of $498,000 to extend clean, reliable water service to families and farms in Gobey area.

"Safe, reliable water is a basic necessity for families, farms and businesses," said Amonett. "Thanks to the support of our Congressional delegation, Rural Development has the financial resources to help the people of Morgan County improve the quality of life for residents by extending critical infrastructure into new areas of the county."

A Rural Development loan of $374,000 and grant of $124,000 complete funding needed to extend water service to the geographically isolated area between Wartburg and Sunbright. The State Department of Environment and Conservation is providing $200,000 and the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal sources are providing $305,000 in additional grants for the project.

This area has been hard hit by the drought and private wells are no longer providing consistently safe or reliable safe drinking water. PUD will add more than 10 miles of additional water main line to reach about 45 existing homes with additional capacity to accommodate future growth in the area.

Rural Development community programs provide rural areas with financial resources to construct or improve essential services like reliable access to clean water, sewer, healthcare, education, job training and first responder facilities. Loan-guarantees encourage private lenders to expand the availability of affordable financing in rural communities. Direct loans and grants create sound financial opportunities for local governments to meet essential infrastructure needs. Funding for water and wastewater projects targets areas with a population of less than 10,000. Other community programs serve areas with a population of less than 20,000.

Others participating in the event included Sen. Bob Corker’s representative David Leaverton; State Rep. John Mark Windle; Plateau Utility District commissioners John Davis, George Walls, and Tony Duncan; and RD Area Office Specialist Mary Short.

USDA Rural Development invests financial and technical to improve the quality of life in rural communities through housing, community and business development programs. In Fiscal Year 2008 Rural Development assisted more than 678,000 Tennessee families and businesses with more than $435 million in financial assistance through loans, loan guarantees and grants.

For more information on Rural Development programs available in Morgan County contact the Knoxville Area Office at 865-523-3338, ext. 4, toll free at (800) 342-3149 ext. 1491, or online at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.

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