Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett recently announced that USDA is investing $392 million to help rebuild and improve rural water and wastewater infrastructure in 42 states.

USDA is supporting investments in 120 infrastructure projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. It can be used to finance drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. In many cases, states, other federal partners and nonprofits are working with USDA to also provide funding for these projects.

The bill also directs Perdue to make investments in rural communities with the greatest infrastructure needs.