Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $27.4 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in seven rural Michigan communities including Vermontville and Lake Odessa.

 

The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage.

 

The Village of Vermontville will use a $277,000 loan to replace and upgrade nearly two miles of old cast iron water main and construct a 150,000-gallon water tower.

 

The Lakewood Wastewater Authority will use a $1,275,000 loan to complete the installation of a sewer force main from Pump Station 16 to the wastewater treatment plant.  An additional $4,708,000 loan will be used for sewer system improvements.