USDA Invests in Rural Water Infrastructure in the Town of Chesterfield

(INDIANAPOLIS) – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Indiana Michael Dora today announced that Town of Chesterfield has been selected to receive funding for water system upgrades.

“The federal funds will be used to assist the town with meeting the Indiana Department of Environmental Management requirements,” said Dora.  “The project will serve the 2,547 residents in Madison County.”

The Town of Chesterfield’s nutrients is exceeding regulations causing degradation to the receiving system.  Many of the problems with the system are due to deterioration and corrosion.  The equipment is almost 40 years old.  The loan funds of $603,000 and grants funds of $850,000 will assist with rehabilitation of the equipment and lift stations.

Dora’s announcement is in coordination with the recent announcement made by Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley that that USDA is investing $192 million in 71 projects located across 29 states to improve rural water infrastructure (PDF, 201 KB). USDA is making the $192 million investment through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Rural communities, water districts, and other eligible entities can use the funds for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.

USDA announced investments in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

USDA will make additional funding announcements in coming weeks. Congress appropriated $2.9 billion for USDA Water and Environmental Program loans and grants in the fiscal year 2019.

View the interactive RD Apply tool or contact one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices for application or eligibility information.

In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

 To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs 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 areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.