Durbin Announces Over $1.8 Million for Rural Development in Marion County

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development division has awarded a loan of $1,156,000 and a grant of $653,200 for the Northeast Marion County Water Company under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.

The project involves the construction of 46 miles to an existing water line, providing an additional 110 Illinoisans with safe drinking water. The Northeast Marion County Water Company currently serves over 1000 rural residents with water in the northern half of Marion County, the western part of Clay County and in the southeast corner of Fayette County, Illinois.

USDA Rural Water and Waste Disposal Loans are given to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems, including solid waste disposal and storm drainage systems in rural areas and towns with populations under 10,000. Funds are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, special-purpose districts, Indian tribes, and corporations not operated for profit. Additionally, Water and Waste Disposal Grants seek to reduce water and waste disposal costs to a reasonable level for rural areas. Each year, the Rural Development division administers nearly $16 billion in program loans, loan guarantees, and grants.