07.12.13

Delegation Announces $6.9 Million in Loans and Grants for Water Infrastructure in Rural Communities

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today that two North Dakota communities, Rolla and Hazelton, have been awarded $6.9 million in water and waste disposal loans and grants from the Office of Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The funds will support the communities’ efforts to replace and improve old water systems, ensuring adequate water distribution, eliminating health risks and providing fire protection for residents.

“Infrastructure development is vital to maintaining healthy communities,” said the delegation in a joint statement. “These funds will not only help meet the needs of long-time residents, but will support growth in these communities. Furthermore, by distributing the larger part of these funds as low-cost loans, we ensure that communities are invested in the projects while improving our government’s fiscal situation.”

The following is the funding breakdown for each community:

  • The City of Rolla will receive a grant of $1.9 million and a low-interest, 40-year loan of $2.3 million.
  • The City of Hazelton will receive a grant of $1.2 million and a low-interest, 40-year loan of $1.5 million.

As members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senators Hoeven and Heitkamp have worked to include infrastructure programs for rural communities as part of a comprehensive, five-year farm bill. Hoeven also worked in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee to make sure funding was appropriated for USDA Rural Development programs, including the water and waste disposal program.

Heitkamp, as Chair of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation, oversees the rural development and infrastructure policies at USDA. She is committed to ensuring access for rural communities to financing needed to make critical infrastructure investments. Heitkamp supported provisions in the Senate-passed Farm Bill to provide needed resources to address the applications backlog for Water and Wastewater Loans at the Rural Utilities Service.

Congressman Cramer worked closely with the House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson to ensure the passage of the farm bill in the House of Representatives today, which includes continued funding for water and waste disposal grants, Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants, and grants to finance individual wells.