New York Rural Water Association

In my travels throughout New York State I have the opportunity to come across many water and wastewater projects that are currently under construction. I always have my eyes open for those familiar green and white signs that announce that the project has been financed either through loan or grant by the United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Utilities Service. As many of you are aware, the USDA-RUS funds several of the New York Rural Water Association programs, including the Circuit Rider programs. John Hraska and myself will more than likely stop in when we see these project signs, to touch base with the system owners and operators on the progress of the project and to provide assistance to the system as needed. This year I have noticed what seems like a bumper crop of the green and white project signs dotting the landscape of rural New York. The Village of Constableville has received funding for construction of a new Slow Sand Filtration Plant that will return them to compliance of the SWTR. The USDA-RUS here in New York State is also one of the leading Water 2000 lenders in the country, bringing grant and loan funds to bear where they are most needed. The USDA-RUS partners with several other funding agencies on a variety of projects. The following is a partial listing:

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Economic Development Agency (EDA) NYSERDA
EPA

By forming partnerships with other agencies the USDA-RUS is able to stretch the dollars that are available so that more projects can be funded than if these partnerships did not exist. The Village of Lyons Falls is currently in the construction phase of a new Wastewater Collection and Treatment System. If your system is contemplating a water or wastewater project or upgrade in the near future, you should be sure to tell your engineering firm to look into the funding possibilities offered by USDA-RUS. The Village of Sherburne received nearly $600,000 in grant and $100,000 in loan from USDA-RUS. Coupled with funds received from EDA and ARC, they were able to move forward with the much needed improvements to their treatment plant. The USDA-RUS state office is located in Syracuse at 441 South Salina St. in the Galleries of Syracuse. The USDA-RUS also operates several regional offices and from many of the USDA Service Centers scattered about the rural areas of New York. James Bays is the State Director of USDA, while David Miller, P.E. heads up the Rural Utilities office here in New York.

Questions and assistance to your loan and grant needs can be answered by calling Eileen McGrath, Rural Development Loan Technician at (315) 477-6434. I am sure Eileen can put you in touch with the USDA-RUS office in your region.