Mowbray Mountain Utility District awarded federal funding

                                                                                                               

December 9, 2009 - SODDY-DAISY, Tenn.—USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode today announced federal funding of $365,000 for needed improvements to the Mowbray Mountain Utility District water system. The presentation took place at the Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department.

 

"Safe, reliable water service is fundamental to the economic health of a community, and it takes extra effort to deliver that where the elevation increases 376 feet over a short distance," said Goode. "Thanks to the support of our congressional delegation, Rural Development has the financial resources needed to ensure Mowbray Mountain continues to have quality water service."

 

According to Mowbray Mountain UD Chairman Carlin Carpenter, a Rural Development community facilities loan of $255,000 and grant of $110,000 will be combined with a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the State to increase reliability and capacity in several ways.

 

A new 12-inch line will be installed parallel to the older 8-inch supply line to bring water up the mountain from the pump station to a water tank at the top. The current 140 gallon per minute (GPM) pump will be replaced with a 350 GPM pump. The new lines will be stronger, allowing the pump station to push through almost double the amount of water to meet the needs of customers during times of peek usage. A new water line will also be built between Rose Marie and Sandstone Roads, creating a loop in the system to improve pressure consistency in the area.

 

Rural Development community programs finance construction or improvements to essential services like reliable access to clean water, wastewater treatment, 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 projects targets areas with populations of less than 10,000.

 

Others participating in the event included Sen. Lamar Alexander's Representative Lindsay Botts, Mowbray UD Secretary Bill McGriff, Southeast Tennessee Development District Director Beth Jones, RD Area Director Rickey Hickman and staff David Collett and Colleen Price.

 

USDA Rural Development invests in jobs, businesses, community infrastructure, homeownership and affordable rental housing in rural communities. Last year Rural Development assisted more than 866,000 Tennessee families and businesses with more than $619 million in financial assistance through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants.

 

For more information on Rural Development programs available in southeast Tennessee contact the Rural Development Area Office in Chattanooga at 423-756-2239, ext. 2, toll free at 1-800-342-3149 ext. 1492 or visit us online at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.

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