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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced more than $4.13 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grant and loan funding for water infrastructure projects in Lamar and Copiah Counties.
The two loan-grant awards to the Progress Community Water Association in Purvis and the Copiah Water Association, Inc. in Hazlehurst will support projects to improve customer service and water usage efficiency. The funding derives from the USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.
“These USDA funds will support water service system upgrades for rural water associations that might not otherwise have access to the capital necessary to provide reliable and safe water to residences and businesses,” Hyde-Smith said. “I appreciate that these water associations in Lamar and Copiah counties will benefit from this important USDA Rural Development program.”
The Progress Community Water Association will purchase a new water well and elevated tank and transition to a six-inch water main with a $1.25 million grant and a $1.99 million long-term, low-interest loan. The project will allow the association to accommodate additional customers and meet code requirements.
The Copiah Water Association is receiving a $173,000 grant and $712,000 loan to replace manually read water meters with radio-read meters, which will support water conservation through more accurate monitoring of water usage and system disruptions.
Rural cities, towns and water districts that serve fewer than 10,000 residents may apply for Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program support for drinking water, storm water drainage, and waste disposal system projects.
Hyde-Smith in September supported committee passage of the FY2020 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which continue funding for USDA rural water, electric, and other development programs.