U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director for Minnesota Cynthia Morales today announced more than $37 million to help expand access to high-speed internet, clean water and reliable electricity in people’s homes and businesses across rural Minnesota.
“Investing in rural infrastructure is more than just investing in a facility or new piping,” Morales said. “It’s investing in the ability for a household to conduct business, take a class or connect with family hundreds of miles away. It’s investing in a community to have safe, affordable drinking water. It’s investing in the reliability that a home or business will have power each day. Today’s investments are a great example of USDA’s continued dedication to assisting rural communities with Building a Better America.”
This announcement reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development’s programs are helping people, businesses, and communities address critical infrastructure needs to help rural America build back better.
For example:
- Red River Valley Coop Power Association will use a $5.1 million loan under the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to build 61 miles of line. This loan will help connect nine people to reliable electricity in Clay, Norman, and Polk counties.
- The city of Bagley will use $13.4 million to make improvements to the water, wastewater and stormwater systems, including new piping, manholes, and improvements to the lift stations. This project will also help to add unserved surrounding areas to the stormwater system and as a whole will benefit nearly 1,400 people.
- Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative will use an $8 million Electric Infrastructure loan to build and improve 144 miles of line. This loan will help connect 485 people to reliable electricity in Becker, Cass, Douglas, Hubbard, Morrison, Otter Tail, Todd and Wadena counties.
- Lake Region Electric Cooperative will use a $12 million Electric Infrastructure loan to build and improve 149 miles of line. This loan will help connect 1,890 people to reliable electricity in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena and Wilkin counties.
- MiEnergy Cooperative will use a $40 million Electric Infrastructure loan to build and improve 473 miles of line. This loan will help connect 1,230 people to reliable electricity in Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, and Winona counties. Funding includes $10.1 million for smart grid projects including installing 216 miles of underground fiber optic cable.
- The city of Onamia will use $2.62 million under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to construct a water treatment facility. This loan will help to address health and sanitation concerns such as reducing excessive levels of ammonia and organic carbon. The project will help bring clean drinking water for nearly 900 people.
- The city of South Haven will use $3.8 million to make improvements to water and sewer infrastructure. This loan will help to address health concerns by reducing or eliminating iron and slime bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and mold. It will also construct a new water tower to replace the lead-based paint existing structure. The project will help to improve water treatment for nearly 200 people.
- Consolidated Telephone Company will use a $2.3 million Community Connect grant to build a 67-mile Fiber-to-the-Premises system. This system will expand access to economic, educational, health care and public safety opportunities for 1,102 people and 20 businesses in the Irondale Township of Crow Wing County. Funds also will help build a community center where residents can access the free high-speed internet for up to two years.
Background
Morales highlighted 19 investments that USDA is making in seven programs designed to help people in rural areas access high-speed internet, clean water, and dependable electric power. These programs include Community Connect Grants, Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program, Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees, Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants, and Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants.
The investments announced today will support rural infrastructure projects in Becker, Cass, Clay, Crow Wing, Douglas, Fillmore, Grant, Houston, Hubbard, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Pipestone, Polk, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Polk, Todd, Wadena, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, and Yellow Medicine.
