{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AD16DA9D-151F-47E4-A82D-E3BE7706D985", "Miss. Lawmakers Announce USDA Funding to Upgrade Rural Water Systems", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MS", "Roger Wicker", "W000437", "www.wicker.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators\u00a0 Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and\u00a0Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and\u00a0Representatives Gregg Harper, R-Miss., and Trent Kelly, R-Miss., today announced more than $6.8 million in federal grants and low-interest loans to improve water and wastewater systems for three rural Mississippi communities.\r\nU.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has approved $1.53 million in grants and $5.33 million in loans to finance system upgrades in rural areas of Lauderdale, Lee, and Winston Counties.\u00a0 The funding is provided through the Water and Waste Water Disposal Loans and Grants Program.\r\n\u201cStrong public utilities are important for any community to thrive,\u201d Wicker said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad these deserving Mississippi communities can soon take steps to improve their water infrastructure and provide safe, clean water to their residents.\u201d\r\n\u201cRural Development loans and grants help rural communities update and expand water infrastructure.\u00a0 Reliable water and wastewater services are important for quality of life and economic growth in rural Mississippi,\u201d\u00a0Cochran\u00a0said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m pleased this financial assistance will be put to good use in our state.\u201d\r\n\u201cWater and wastewater systems are vital to ensuring our rural communities are safe and sustainable,\u201d said Harper.\u00a0 \u201cI am glad that these funds will go toward improving water infrastructure for the hardworking Mississippi residents and businesses in Lauderdale, Lee, and Winston counties.\u201d\r\n\u201cIt is important that we properly maintain our water and wastewater infrastructure across Mississippi,\u201d Kelly said.\u00a0 \u201cThese funds will help improve quality of life for residents and business owners.\u201d\r\nThe Toomsuba Water System in Lauderdale County will receive $3.0 million ($1.92 million loan, $1.23 million grant) for a well, pressure filters, backwash tank, detention tank, aerator, sludge pond, concrete control chemical building, chlorinator building and improvements to the water treatment plant.\r\nThe Mooreville-Richmond Water Association in Lee County was awarded a $2.0 million loan for a new well, generator, chemical building and equipment, and distribution upgrades.\u00a0\r\nThe Liberty Plattsburg Waster Association in Winston County was awarded a total of $2.42 million ($1.4 million loan, $416,000 grant) to construct a new 300 GPM water well and new treatment plant.\u00a0 The association is contributing $600,000 toward this effort.\r\nEach loan is for a 40-year term at 1.875 percent interest.\r\nThe Water and Waste Water Disposal Loans and Grants program is designed to help rural areas, towns and tribal communities with populations of 10,000 or fewer.\u00a0 The program is intended to help ensure better access to reliable drinking water and wastewater systems for rural residents and businesses.\r\n\u00a0\r\nUSDA Rural Development Awards Grants, Loans to Improve Water and Wastewater Systems in Lauderdale, Lee & Winston Counties", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AD16DA9D-151F-47E4-A82D-E3BE7706D985"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.1759727969765663, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}