Skip to main content

CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES $222,081 FROM USDA TO GOLDEN TRIANGLE RCDC TO SUPPORT CLEAN DRINKING WATER PROJECTS REVOLVING FUND

February 28, 2023
DAWSON, GA Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, announced a $222,081 Rural Decentralized Water Systems grant to Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development Council (RCDC). The grant is part of USDA's Rural Development program and will help finance direct loans for household water well installments. The Household Water Well Revolving Loan Fund will be created to help rural families access safe, clean drinking water.
"Our rural communities frequently rely on wells to get their drinking water, but these projects require a lot of up-front expenses. The Golden Triangle RCDC will be able to use these federal funds to become a local resource for residents to help finance household water well installations," said Congressman Bishop. "USDA Rural Development is a crucial federal resource for our communities, helping families, organizations, and local governments invest in major improvements that have a lasting, positive effect on the quality of life in Southwest Georgia."
"Many rural residents do not live near a centralized water system; therefore, it is essential that they have access to wells that are safe and working. Unfortunately, when private wells fail either from age or little or no maintenance, many residents are left with no water. Some rural residents don't have the financial resources to repair their household water well or drill a new one," said Golden Triangle's Executive Director Rhonda Gordon. "Golden Triangle has implemented the USDA Rural Utilities Division Household Water Well loan program since 2010 and helped over 225 people with their wells. The program is designed to help low-income rural homeowners construct or upgrade household water well systems. The loan program compliments environmental initiatives and provides support for rural residents."
A revolving loan fund is a gap financing measure that uses interest and the payments of previous loans to finance new loans. These loans are common when helping local businesses and communities.
###