STEVENS POINT, Wisc. Feb. 21, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa today announced that USDA is funding a total of $32,816,452 in loans and grants across eight projects in rural Wisconsin as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
“The investments announced today are strengthening rural infrastructure for people in rural Wisconsin, including Rural Partners Network communities,” said Lassa. “They’ll help rural school districts enrich students’ education through distance learning, allow small businesses to be more resilient and save money through renewable energy as well as ensuring that emergency vehicles can respond quickly to calls for help. The Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to invest in our rural communities and driving an economic agenda that is rebuilding our economy and infrastructure.” [Audio: Mp3, 29 seconds, 705KB]
Rural Partners Network Awards
USDA is funding a variety of projects in underserved communities participating in the Rural Partners Network (RPN). These investments will expand access to education, business opportunities, emergency health care, and renewable energy.
In Wisconsin:
- Northwood Technical College will use a $999,480 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant to equip five hub sites and 33 hub/end-user sites throughout Douglas, Ashland, Barron, St. Croix, Bayfield, Dodge, Florence, Marinette, Sawyer, Iron, Forest, Juneau, Taylor, Wood, Price, Waupaca, Shawano, and Portage counties in northern and central Wisconsin with interactive video distance learning equipment. Instructors at 33 Public K-12 schools will have access to enrichment, high school, dual-credit programming, along with continuing education classes benefitting 33,278 individuals.
- Hegg Mill LLC, a rural small business in Ettrick, will use a $97,965 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to purchase and install a small solar electric array.
- Adams County Fire District will use a $34,000 Community Facilities Grant to purchase and install a backup generator operated by the Adams County Fire District (ACFD) for the fire station.
- Craig Myhre dba Myville Farms, a crop farming operation in Osseo, will use a $28,007 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to install a 22.9-kilowatt roof mount solar array.
Rural Infrastructure Awards
USDA is also funding investments through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program which help state and local governments, private nonprofits and federally recognized Tribes build and improve rural wastewater systems. The funding enables rural communities to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal and stormwater drainage.
In Wisconsin:
- Village of Turtle Lake will use a $18,885,000 Water and Waste Disposal Loan to provide additional funding towards the construction of their Wastewater Treatment Facility and sewer system.
- Village of Bristol will use a $8,500,000 Water and Waste Disposal Loan to construct a new 600,000-gallon water tower, make improvements to an existing water tower and reconstruct 6,722 linear feet of water mains in the village of Bristol.
- Village of Junction City will use a $2,351,000 loan and a $1,401,000 grant through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program to perform several upgrades to the water system as well as repainting and recoating the inside of the water tower. This project also includes installing a new watermain from Well 6 and constructing a sampling line within an existing park shelter off this new main.
- Village of Viola will use a $323,000 loan and a $197,000 grant through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program as additional funding towards an infrastructure relocation project within the village.
A full list of projects from today’s national announcement in North Carolina is available online.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.