Durbin Announces Over $3 Million for a Rural Development Project in McDonough County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development division has awarded a loan of $2,192,000 and a grant of $999,200 for the West Prairie Water CO-OP under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.
The project involves the construction of almost 100 miles of water mains in townships across McDonough County. These improvements are expected to alleviate a health and sanitary issue caused by the contamination of individual wells, which serve as water sources.
USDA Rural Water and Waste Disposal Loans are given to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems, including solid waste disposal and storm drainage systems in rural areas and towns with populations under 10,000. Funds are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, special-purpose districts, Indian tribes, and corporations not operated for profit. Additionally, Water and Waste Disposal Grants seek to reduce water and waste disposal costs to a reasonable level for rural areas. Each year, the Rural Development division administers nearly $16 billion in program loans, loan guarantees, and grants.