USDA Awards Grants to Three Villages for Water Infrastructure Projects

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Illinois State Director Jesus Ortega announced that the agency is investing $930,000 in water infrastructure projects for the villages of Camp Point, Roseville, and Stronghurst.

"Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rollins, USDA Rural Development is supporting water infrastructure projects that are vital to rural Illinois communities," said Ortega. "These investments are critical to the individuals, families, and businesses that reside in rural Illinois to ensure they have access to safe drinking water."

USDA is administering the funding through Rural Development's Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants and Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grants. Rural Development's Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants help eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. The agency's Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Household Grants helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.

USDA Rural Development announced funding for these three projects in rural Illinois:

Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grants

• Village of Camp Point received a $28,000 grant for a Preliminary Engineering Report. This report will determine the most feasible options for improving the village's water system infrastructure. This project will benefit 1,121 residents in the village, which is in Adams County, Illinois.

• Village of Roseville received a $30,000 grant for a Preliminary Engineering Report. This report will help determine the best course of action for the village in recoating its 250,000-gallon elevated water storage tank, repairing the water system main pipe, and estimating the cost of replacing outdated water meters, hydrants and valves. The report will provide options for the village to improve its water distribution to more than 850 residents in the village.

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants

• Village of Stronghurst received an $872,000 grant to build a well. The village faces a water emergency due to the diminishing capacity of its shallow aquifer. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has placed the village on the restricted status list for inadequate source capacity. The new well will draw water from the Mississippi River Bottoms aquifer, ensuring that residents have adequate quantity and quality of water. This project will alleviate health and sanitary concerns for more than 800 residents in the village.

USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with programs to promote rural prosperity. These programs expand access to high-speed internet, electricity, and transportation infrastructure, and support economic growth, healthcare, education, housing, and other community essentials. Discover more investment details and historical data in the Rural Data Gateway and learn more about the agency at www.rd.usda.gov/il .

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