Access to clean drinking water is essential for the health and prosperity of Oregon’s rural communities. Across the state, aging infrastructure struggles to keep up with growing demand, yet high costs, long timelines, and complex regulations too often keep communities from making water-saving upgrades and building more resilient water and waste disposal systems that ensure clean and ample water supplies for decades to come. United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) in Oregon is working to break down those barriers with the help of county and community leadership.

“Access to clean water and sanitary waste disposal impacts every part of life in rural Oregon,” State Director Margi Hoffmann said. “To USDA RD, these programs are about more than the expense. We live in these communities. We drink this water. We know that the projects we begin today will improve the lives of rural Oregonians for decades to come, and we want to empower community leadership as they create a safer and more resilient future for our shared home.”

Under Hoffmann’s leadership, USDA RD in Oregon continues to work side-by-side with community partners to tackle rural Oregon’s most forward-looking rural water and wastewater infrastructure projects. From project conception to the first glass of water or the very first flush, USDA RD’s Water and Environmental Programs help rural communities obtain the technical assistance and financing necessary to develop safe, sustainable, and more resilient water and waste disposal systems. Programs available for communities of less than 10,000 residents include:

Through these and other programs, USDA’s dedicated team of community programs specialists work to provide communities with a comprehensive and less daunting experience. The agency plans to work on the ground in rural communities to better understand and meet the needs of some of Oregon’s most underserved citizens and communities.

“At USDA RD in Oregon we’re better equipped to handle large, complex projects that might otherwise struggle to find funding or long-term assistance,” Hoffman continued. “These projects may require years of planning and teamwork with communities, and we’re here to support them every step of the way.”

Interested communities are encouraged to visit www.rd.usda.gov/or and to contact their nearest USDA Rural Development state office. For more updates on these and other programs, subscribe to GovDelivery or follow USDA RD Oregon on Twitter at @RD_Oregon.

Contributed by: Max Sprague | United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development