CONGRESSMAN RUBÉN HINOJOSA ANNOUNCES USDA GRANTS AWARDED FOR EARTH DAY WATER PROJECTS IN DUVAL COUNTY AND THE CITY OF ALTON

Washington, D. C. – April 23, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Rubén Hinojosa announces the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded grants and loans to Duval County and to the City of Alton for water projects and improvements as part of their Earth Day 2015 Project Selection.

“Both of these grants and loans issued by the USDA will help alleviate imminent health risks for hundreds of residents,” said U.S. Rep. Hinojosa. “On this 45th anniversary of Earth Day we must remember to always strive to create the best environment for our families. No longer will these families have to worry about drinking quality water or worry about inoperable individual septic systems. No longer will they have to worry about their children playing in ground saturated sewage during the raining season. I am very pleased at how the USDA continues to help the residents of south Texas.”

Duval County will receive a grant of $588,000 and a loan for $351,000 to bring the Duval County Conservation and Reclamation District’s water system into regulatory compliance. By completing the proposed water system improvements, the District will improve the quality of life and increase economic opportunities for rural residents.

The City of Alton will receive a grant of $290,000 and a 306C grant of $441,000 plus a loan of $240,000 to be used to install sewer lines to provide service for 468 new residents. This will be used to help connect the homes to sewer collection. Half of the homes are located in five colonias while the other half are homes in areas outside the city limits in Hidalgo County. Rural Development helped alleviate the health risk by connecting these 468 users onto the public sewer system.