Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Funding to Improve Taconite’s Water System

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced a $851,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant and a $1,494,000 loan to make improvements to the City of Taconite's water system. The funding will advance the construction of a new water storage tank, a water pump house, and a replacement water tower. The project will also install individual water meters for customers and develop a meter-reader system.

"To ensure families are getting quality water out of their taps, it's important to upgrade water infrastructure once the equipment reaches the end of its useful life," said Klobuchar. "With this federal support, Taconite can rebuild the water system to better serve residents."

"Updating the water system will make a real difference for people living in Taconite," said Smith. "This loan from the USDA will help to construct a new water storage tankand provide safe, clean water for the city's residents."

Senators Klobuchar and Smith are members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, which oversees the USDA.

This federal funding was secured through the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. Program grants can be used by communities across the country to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community in a primarily rural area, such as health care facilities, public safety services, educational services, and more.

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