SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in Ohio State Director Jonathan McCracken announced an investment of $22.4 million in loans and grants to four Ohio recipients that are intended to improve Ohio’s rural electric, water, and solid waste management infrastructure. “Ohio Rural Development is committed to increasing investments in Ohio’s rural communities to ensure that they continue to have access to essential services like clean water and reliable, affordable power,” said McCracken. “These investments today underscore USDA’s commitment to ensuring our rural communities have the resources they need to be competitive, sustain economic growth, and improve the quality of life for their residents.”
Ohio’s investments are part of more than 200 projects nationwide designed to improve rural electric and water infrastructure, improve sanitary waste disposal and stormwater drainage, and support rural economies and communities. Recent electric, water, and solid waste management investments in Ohio include:
Midwest Electric in St. Mary’s, Ohio, received a $15 million Electric and Infrastructure Loan to build and improve its electrical lines. They serve an average of more than 11,000 connected customers through more than 1,500 miles of lines in Allen, Auglaize, Darke, Mercer, Putnam, Shelby, and Van Wert counties. This project will connect an additional 403 consumers and improve more than 40 miles of electrical lines.
Buckeye Water District in Wellsville, Ohio, received a $4.7 million Water and Waste Disposal Loan to construct a new administration building and garage. This project will consolidate Buckeye’s operations, creating more efficiency and reducing operating costs so the district can continue providing clean, safe drinking water to its more than 31,000 residents across two villages and six townships in northeast Ohio.
The Village of Chauncey, Ohio, received a $2.6 million Water and Waste Disposal Grant to replace its wastewater collection system. The existing 70-year-old clay pipe system is subject to chronic breaks, creating pollution hazards and increasing maintenance and operating costs. The new system is expected to improve the quality of life for the more than 900 residents who live within the collection system’s service area.
Rural Action, Inc., in The Plains, Ohio, received a $112,000 Solid Waste Management Grant to fund an initiative that identifies and implements best practices for waste management by improving recycling and composting techniques. The project is expected to improve environmental quality and living conditions for more than 150,000 residents in 12 Ohio and two West Virginia counties.
Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com
