USDA Rural Development Program Director Keith Head on Tuesday joined state, congressional, and community leaders at a funding announcement for Mowbray Mountain Utility District which received $1.9 million in Rural Development funding to assist in waterline extensions to rural areas of Bledsoe and Hamilton counties.
The ceremony was held at the Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department in Soddy-Daisy.
“Helping rural communities’ access a clean, safe water source is at the forefront of our public service mission,” said Mr. Head. “I applaud the Mowbray Mountain Utility District for their hard work to secure this much needed assistance that will offer more water service to Bledsoe and Hamilton County residents.”
Rural Development funds will help reduce exposure to water related health and safety hazards by assisting the purchase and construction of over 26 miles of water distribution lines, a 750,000-gallon elevated water storage tank, and improvements to a pump station. The project will provide water service to 200 new residential customers in the Hendon area of Bledsoe County and Leggett Road and Retro-Hughes Road areas of Hamilton County, where 100 percent of wells tested positive for excess iron levels.
The extension is funded through Rural Development’s community program which provides assistance to public bodies or not for profit entities to finance water, sanitary sewerage, solid waste disposal and storm wastewater facilities for rural residents. Loans and/or grants are made to serve rural areas with a population less than 10,000.
“I am very pleased to announce through the cooperation of Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey and Bledsoe County Mayor Gregg Ridley - and the efforts of many others - the Mowbray Utility District will extend water lines on Walden Ridge in the southeast area of Bledsoe County and the Northwest area of Hamilton County to provide much needed quality water to families living in these areas,” said Carlin Carpenter, Chairman for Mowbray Mountain Utility District.
Participants in the ceremonial check presentation included Jeff Lewis, field representative for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander; Kerry Steelman, field director for U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp; Leigh McClure, field reprepresentative for U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp; Claude Ramsey, Hamilton County Mayor; Gregg Ridley, Bledsoe County Mayor; Bledsoe County Commissioners Gordon Smith and Carlos Smith and Southeast Tennessee Development District officials Hale Booth and Hal Morris; and Rickey Hickman, Area Director for USDA Rural Development.