USDA Rural Development Celebrates Earth Day by Supporting Water Quality Projects in 40 States and Puerto Rico

2014 Farm Bill Enables Record USDA Investments in Rural Water Systems

   WASHINGTON, April 22, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today celebrated Earth Day by announcing record support for 116 projects that will improve water and wastewater services for rural Americans and benefit the environment.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that a critical improvement project to the Binghamton-Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant, damaged in 2011 by Tropical Storm Lee, will move forward thanks to a $30.32 million loan package from the state for plant repairs, improvements and protection against future storms, including a flood wall around the plant.

With the current low interest rates any municipal system thinking about a project should start the process.

WQIP Round 11 Funding is Available!

Governor Cuomo announced the availability of grants for Round 11 of the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program. Funding is available for municipalities, soil and water conservation districts and non-profit organizations. The WQIP program is a competitive, reimbursement grant program funded primarily by the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and NY Works II for projects that reduce polluted runoff, improve water quality and restore habitat in New York’s waterbodies.

With support from USDA Rural Development, the Environmental Finance Center will fund up to three proposals for as much as $5,000 each to provide NYS rural municipalities with the proper tools and resources to fully conduct an Asset Management inventory for their water or wastewater system. All submissions must be received by 5:00pm on January 3rd, 2014, to be considered.