USDA rural infrastructure program pumps nearly $15 million into water treatment in two west Arkansas cities

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The United States Department of Agriculture is placing nearly $15 million into Arkansas to support two wastewater treatment projects for two cities.

USDA officials said the fundind is for projects in Mena and Mulberry.

Mulberry is receiving a $5.294 million grant and a $1.843 million loan for the city’s water treatment plant. According to the award notice, the funding will provide resources after bid overruns in critical repairs to the city’s facility by providing redundancy for equipment.

The Mulberry award notice stated the upgrades provided by the funding will allow system users to continue to receive potable water in the event of primary equipment failure.

The Mena project will receive a $7.75 million loan for improvements to the city’s water treatment plant after the Arkansas Department of Health noted deficiencies in the system. The goal of the investment and improvements is to provide a more reliable water supply for community residents, the award notice stated.

the USDA Rural Development program provided the funding. In a March interview , USDA senior community programs specialist Marti Canatsey called safe rural water supplies a cornerstone for community building.

“USDA Rural Development makes a difference in rural America by funding water projects, which is the cornerstone for communities to build on,” Canatsey was quoted as saying, adding, “Safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal systems are vital to public health and economic vitality in rural areas.”

The two Arkansas projects are part of the 116 water and electric projects receiving $1.3 billion in USDA Rural Development funds across 30 states.

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