U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is providing more than $352 million in loans and grants to upgrade rural water and wastewater systems nationwide. The projects funded will not only help ensure rural places have access to clean water, but will also create jobs and help communities retain and attract new businesses and families. In Iowa, the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA) is receiving $5,699,000 in loan and $4,371,000 in grant funds to make improvements to existing distribution piping across the organization’s service area, as well as installation of a new elevated storage tank, booster pump station and appurtenances, and three emergency generators. The funding will benefit approximately 6,925 existing rural customers in Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor and Union Counties.

Vilsack said “These investments are critical for our health and safety, and in the long term for sustainable economic development. Investments like these in the nation’s water infrastructure also are critical to address the impact of climate change on our water supplies. The projects supported with these resources will ensure rural families have access to clean water and create jobs in communities across the country.”

The USDA is providing $175 million in loans and $165 million in grants through the Water and Environmental Program. It’s part of more than $1.5 billion USDA invested in rural water and wastewater projects during the 2014 Fiscal Year, which ended September 30. This past year USDA Rural Development’s investment in Iowa helped create or retain more than 1,000 jobs, aided 2,600 families in buying their own homes and assisted more than 60 communities as they made improvements to their facilities, services and infrastructure.