DES MOINES – Iowa’s Third Congressional District will receive over $22 million in rural development grants and loans from the United States Department of Agriculture to improve critical rural infrastructure. Representative Cindy Axne’s office says the investments will expand access to high-speed internet, clean water and dependable electric power in rural Iowa.

Those receiving USDA Rural Development  include:

• Southern Iowa Rural Water Association – $12,000,000 to go toward new water treatment plant that will serve approximately 9,000 Iowans
• City of Neola – $3,900,000 to improve the main line water distribution system and replace and improve the chemical feed system at the city’s water treatment plant
• Lenox Municipal Utilities – $2,270,000 to replace aging watermains, complete loops within the existing distribution system, and repair infiltration issues to improve the health and safety of the drinking water for nearly 1,500 residents
• City of Farragut – $2,268,000 loan and a $772,000 grant for renovating the city’s existing lagoon cell, to construct a chlorination and de-chlorination system, an aeration blower, an effluent lift station building, new piping and make modifications to the existing lift station
• City of Lewis – $628,000 grant and a $145,000 loan for improvements to its wastewater collection system and repairs to manholes
• City of Carter Lake – $509,000 to reline sewer pipes and replace manhole covers

The grants and loan are part of a $5.2 billion investment to improve critical rural infrastructure in 46 states and Puerto Rico.