Baldwin Applauds USDA Infrastructure Investment

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, is the latest proponent of USDA’s $114.5 million investment to build and improve infrastructure in rural Wisconsin. The investments will help expand access to clean water and reliable electricity in people’s homes and businesses in rural communities.

“Every Wisconsin community needs access to clean drinking water, an environment free of toxic chemicals, high-speed internet, and stable electricity,” Baldwin says. “Alongside the investments from the bipartisan infrastructure bill that I supported, the Biden administration’s commitment to rural communities will help make that reality, while also creating good-paying jobs across the state.”

Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement follows the recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Baldwin says it reflects the ways USDA Rural Development’s programs are helping people, businesses and communities address critical infrastructure needs to help rural America build back better.

For example:

–Bloomer will use $27.6 million under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to replace all lead service lines, lead-jointed water main pipes and sanitary sewer mains. These improvements will help the city to reduce lead limits in their water distribution system for its 3,539 community members. Funding also will help to prevent inflow and infiltration issues from cracked piping.

–Waterloo will use $21.1 million to replace aging wastewater treatment facility infrastructure and meet current and future effluent limits, including phosphorus. Nearly 3,400 people will benefit from these improvements.

–Wonewoc will use $10.1 million to renovate and expand the wastewater treatment facility and address overflow issues. This investment will benefit 816 community members.

–Chetek will use $20.7 million to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant and address several code violations for residential and commercial structures within 500 feet of the site. More than 2,200 people will benefit from these improvements.

–Turtle Lake will use $21.8 million to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant and sewer system and address excessive phosphorus and chloride limits. These improvement will benefit 1,050 people.

–Scenic Rivers Energy Coop will use a $13.2 million loan under the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to build 2.2 new miles of line and a new headquarters facilities. Scenic Rivers serves 14,289 consumers over 3,528 miles of line in Grant, Richland, Green, Crawford, Iowa, Lafayette and Vernon counties in Wisconsin, as well as Jo Daviess and Stephenson counties in Illinois.