U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $6,190,000 in federal funding for the Village of Clayton in Jefferson County to make new investments in local water infrastructure. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. Specifically, this funding comes in the form of a $1,500,000 grant and a $4,690,000 loan, the latter of which can be paid back over 38 years with low interest. These funds will be used to upgrade water main lines, filtration systems, and the local water treatment plant. Part of these funds will also be used for a major overhaul of the Village’s standpipe, which will further enhance water system capabilities.
“With these new funds, the Village of Clayton can now move forward with several critical infrastructure upgrades without passing the bill on to local taxpayers,” said Senator Schumer. “These improvements will help ensure that the Village’s water system continues to safely and conveniently serve the people of Clayton for years to come. This investment creates jobs in the short-term and boosts sustainable economic development in the long-term. Nothing is more important than making sure our families have access to clean drinking water, and I’m committed to delivering the resources our local communities need to provide it.”
“This funding will help ensure that the water in the Village of Clayton is safe to use and consume,” said Senator Gillibrand, the first New York Senator to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years. “All of our communities in New York should have access to a reliable water system, and I will continue to fight in the Senate to make sure our communities have the resources they need to keep their water supplies efficient and clean.”
USDA Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal 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.