From staff reports U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week announced that the USDA is investing $6.3 billion in rural and tribal communities across Oklahoma and 43 other states to expand their access to a reliable electric grid, clean drinking water, and good-paying jobs.
“These investments will build modern infrastructure that will attract employers to the nation’s smallest towns and most remote communities, creating jobs, vibrant Main Streets, and lasting economic growth for the people who live there,” Vilsack said in a Dec. 10 statement.
More than 200 projects are being financed to strengthen the nation’s rural infrastructure.
The USDA is providing $5.7 billion in funding through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to help utility providers and electric cooperatives build and improve electric infrastructure and smart-grid technologies in 23 states.
These projects aim to ensure everyone in rural America has access to reliable electricity, increasing economic opportunity and improving quality of life. Oklahoma will receive funding.
Through the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program and the Solid Waste Management Grants program, USDA is also investing nearly $642 million to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal, and stormwater drainage for people in 41 states.
The 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 healthcare; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas.
To learn about the impact of these investments, visit www.rd.usda.gov.