USDA Invests Over $90 Million in Rural Infrastructure Projects in Indiana

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Indiana Deputy State Director Curtis Johnson announced that USDA is investing in five projects across Indiana to expand access to a clean and reliable electric grid, safe drinking water, and good-paying jobs for people in rural Hoosier areas.

“Through the USDA Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program, we are proud to invest close to $30 million to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal, and stormwater drainage in three Hoosier towns. These investments will make water infrastructure in rural areas more resilient to climate change and severe weather impacts, benefitting the residents of Huntingburg, Petersburg, and Frankton,” Johson said, “In addition, USDA is helping two utility providers and electric cooperatives build and improve electric infrastructure and smart-grid technologies in Indiana with more than $60 million in USDA funding. These projects will ensure that customers of Kankakee Valley REMC and South Central Indiana REMC have access to reliable electricity, increasing economic opportunity and improving quality of life in northwestern and south central Indiana.” 

Strengthening Rural Water Infrastructure 

USDA is investing funds today through the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal, and stormwater drainage in three Hoosiers towns. 

• In Huntingburg, the city of Huntingburg will use an additional $19,446,000 USDA loan to improve the Wastewater Treatment Plant for the City of Huntingburg. Improvements include constructing a new headworks/screening facility, a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR), a new UV system, a new cascade aeration, and miscellaneous improvements to the Treatment Plant. The improvement will assist the utility in addressing concerns with capacity and overload conditions for the benefit of the 6,362 residents of the city. The State Revolving Loan Fund and Economic Development Administration have provided additional funding for this project. 
• In Petersburg, the city of Petersburg will use an additional $7,048,000 USDA loan and a $1,703,000 USDA grant to renovate and improve the existing Wastewater Utility for Petersburg, Indiana. The project will include adding two new trickling filters to the wastewater treatment plant. The plant will also replace two clarifiers as part of this project and add a new transfer Lift Station. Some targeted upgrades to the collections system will be part of the project. The Petersburg Wastewater Utility service area currently includes the city of Petersburg’s 2,304 city residents and up to 963 rural residents residing in Washington Township, where feasible. 
• In Frankton, the town of Frankton will use an additional $600,000 USDA grant to improve the Town of Frankton’s wastewater and stormwater systems. This phase of the project will include replacing and upsizing over 5,000 feet of sanitary sewer and 1,800 feet of storm sewer. This project will reduce exposure to untreated wastewater discharges, improve water quality, and address issues identified in the January 2014 Agreed Order issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Over 700 residents will benefit from the investment. 

Delivering Clean, Reliable Energy  

USDA is also providing funding through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to help two utility providers and electric cooperatives build and improve electric infrastructure and smart-grid technologies in Indiana.

These projects will help ensure customers of Kankakee Valley REMC and South Central Indiana REMC have access to reliable electricity to increase economic opportunity and improve quality of life. For example: 

• Kankakee Valley REMC will use a $31,428,000 USDA loan to connect 450 consumers and build and improve 212 miles of line. This loan includes smart grid technologies for $1,361,324. Kankakee Valley is headquartered in Wanatah, Indiana, and serves approximately 21,519 consumers over a 2,146-mile line in seven counties in northwestern Indiana. 
• South Central Indiana REMC will use a $30,000,000 USDA loan to connect 1,880 consumers and build and improve 291 miles of line. This loan includes $17,506,421 in smart grid technologies, including 9 miles of fiber. South Central Indiana REMC serves the needs of an average of 35,160 members over 4,154 miles in Morgan, Monroe, Owen, Brown, Johnson, Putnam, and Clay counties in South Central Indiana. 

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. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. 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.

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