USDA Rural Development Announces Funding in Rural Alaska

“Today’s announcements represent continuation of a long-standing commitment by USDA to improve public health conditions in predominantly Native villages in rural Alaska. These investments improve water and sanitary conditions by bringing basic services to homes and public buildings in these communities including safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal," Tonsager said.

“The RAVG funding will go to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), on behalf of rural Alaskan communities, to construct drinking water and wastewater systems in Kwethluk, Toksook Bay, Eek and Lower Kalskag. The projects will improve public health and sanitation conditions for residents of these communities that currently must collect rain water to drink, and rely on portable solid waste containers euphemistically called “honey buckets.”” said Rural Development Alaska State Director Jim Nordlund. Nordlund announced the funding on Tonsager’s behalf during the annual Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage.

The funding announced today totals over $21.8 million. ANTHC also received an additional $742,500 pre-planning RAVG grant. That funding will be used to help cover preliminary cost and analysis for engineering, environmental review, design and rights-of-ways tasks associated with bringing water and wastewater services to the rural communities of Crooked Creek, Atmautluak, Hoonah, Kipnuk, Nanwalek, Pilot Station and Huslia. The State of Alaska also received a $6.2 million RAVG grant for water and wastewater infrastructure systems for Quinhagak and Hooper Bay, and the State will do pre-planning work in the communities of Seldovia, McGrath and Tununak.

In Tununak, funding will be used to upgrade an engineering report, prepare an environmental report and business plan. Currently, the majority of residents of Tununak do not have indoor plumbing, and dispose of waste by hauling it in buckets. The planning documents are necessary to evaluate the options of providing the community with healthy and safe sanitation systems.

For additional information on USDA projects, please visit Rural Development’s new interactive web map featuring program funding and success stories for fiscal years 2009 – 2011. The data can be found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html.

President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.

USDA’s investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $172 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

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