U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Water and Environmental program will provide Henry County with a total of $1,315,500 in federal grant and loan funding. The Water and Environmental program provides loans and grants to ensure that the necessary investments are made in water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment in rural areas. The funds are being provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

According to the USDA, the funds, which include a federal grant of $465,500 and federal loan of $850,000, will be used to provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment systems for Henry County.

Funding to states and localities through the economic recovery package will be allocated through existing federal programs like these, rather than earmarks, in order to ensure prompt distribution and better accountability. Local projects receive funds from these grants by following the process set up by each program. During Congressional consideration of the economic recovery bill, McCaskill worked to put additional accountability measures in place.

 

McCaskill believes that federal grants and loans are a positive alternative to earmarks, which in the past have frequently had too little accountability.  Competitive merit and need based federal grants and low-interest government loans bring federal assistance to Missouri in an honest and fiscally responsible manner.