WASHINGTON- Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development has awarded grants and loans totaling $6,262,320 to Iowa through the Community Facility Grant program and the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant.
“These funds will help rural Iowa get the facilities and water distribution that is needed,” Grassley said. “These are important projects that will be a benefit to each community.”
The Community Facility Grant program provides grants to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. The Water and Waste Disposal Direct Loan and Grant program provides loans to develop water and waste disposal systems in rural areas and towns with a population of up to 10,000 people and rural areas with no population limits.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development has awarded funds to facilitate various projects, as described below.
· --$12,800 grant to the Howard-WinneshiekCommunity School District to purchase playground equipment, accessories, and related materials for the Cresco child care facility
· --$2,236,000 loan to Iowa Lakes Regional Water in Spencer to construct and improve the water system of Iowa Lakes Regional Water service area, and add approximately 150 new rural customers
· --$2,146,000 loan to the Iowa Regional Utilities Association in Newton to construct a water distribution system to serve approximately 320 households in Blackhawk and Bremer counties
· --$700,000 loan to the Iowa Regional Utilities Association in Newton to construct a water distribution system to serve approximately 230 households in Buchanan County
· --$35,000 grant to the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation in Decorah to purchase and install playground equipment at the Headstart/elementary school in Waukon
· --$130,000 grant and $68,000 loan to the Regional Utility Service Systems Commission in Fairfield to construct a new public sewer collection and treatment system in Linby
· --$579,000 grant and $297,000 loan to the Regional Utility Service Systems Commission in Fairfield to finance the construction of a new public sewer collection and treatment system for 68 users in Mt. Union
· --$3,520 grant to the Ringgold Community Water Emergency Team Inc. in Mount Ayr to purchase four drysuits for use in search and rescue water operations