In honor of Earth Day 2022, Alabama State Director for Rural Development Nivory Gordon, Jr. announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $400,000 in Alabama in climate-smart infrastructure. This was part of a nearly $800 million disbursement in 40 other states, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands. USDA claims that these projects will strengthen the health and livelihoods of people across rural Alabama and rural America. Two projects in Alabama and 165 projects nationwide were funded in this initiative.
The Newton Water and Sewer Board will receive a loan of $191,000 and a grant of $149,000 under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to install remotely read water utility meters. This investment will allow the board to closely track water consumption, reducing water waste and more quickly alerting staff of a water leak in the system, and it will help ensure accuracy of meter readings. The investment will also reduce the board's vehicle emissions, labor and transportation expenses in reading meters. Some 1,511 people live in Newton.
The Dale County Water Authority, based in Ozark, will receive a grant of $74,000 under the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant program to repair a breached water main caused by Hurricane Sally in September of 2020. Because of the damaged water main, the authority experienced a 112% increase in water pumped from the main well. The water main repair will result in a greatly reduced amount of wasted water in the system, conserving fresh water in the community. Some 2,396 people live in Ozark.
Friday’s announcement is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour, during which Administration officials are traveling to dozens of rural communities to discuss the impact of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments and President Biden’s commitment to ensure federal resources reach all communities in rural America.
“This Earth Day, we celebrate investments made by USDA to help Alabama’s rural communities make improvements which benefit both our communities and our planet”, Gordon said. “Investments like the one here in Newton today help to highlight USDA’s commitment to helping Alabama’s rural communities. The success of rural Alabama and rural America is critical to the success of the rest of the country and the world. So, when we invest in climate-smart solutions in rural communities, we invest in the health, livelihoods and futures of the people everywhere across the world.”
The spending is authorized under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program and the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant program.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
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