December 11, 2018 • Page 8 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com South Dakota Residents To Benefit From Rural Water And Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements HURON, S.D., Dec. 4, 2018 - Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA is investing $1.2 billion to help rebuild and improve rural water infrastructure for 936,000 rural Americans living in 46 states. Seven projects in South Dakota are receiving funding. “Access to water is a key driver for economic opportunity and quality of life in rural communities,” Hazlett said. “Under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in building prosperity through modern water infrastructure.” USDA is providing financing for 234 water and environmental infrastructure projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. The funding can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. Eligible communities and water districts can apply online on the interactive RD Apply tool, or they can apply through one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices. Below are examples of the investments USDA is making in South Dakota: • The City of Redfield will use a $7,980,000 loan and a $5,186,000 grant to finance improvements to its sewer collection system. It will replace or reline deficient collections throughout the community. These improvements will help alleviate inflow and infiltration, as well as health and sanitary concerns caused by deficiencies in the system. In addition, improvements will provide a cohesive sewer collection system for the community’s 2,333 residents. The federal funding will be leveraged with local funds to accomplish enhancements and provide a unified sewer collection system for this rural community. • The City of Redfield will use a $4,012,000 and a $3,274,000 grant to improve the water distribution system. The booster station will be enhanced, and outdated distribution lines will be replaced throughout the community. These improvements will create operating efficiencies and provide a reliable water distribution system for the community’s 2,333 residents. • WEB Water Development Association, Inc. will use a $35,492,000 loan and a $5,901,000 grant to make improvements to the water system. WEB Water will parallel a water line along their main trunk line, construct an additional storage tank along the main trunk line, and parallel or add water lines, and make booster station upgrades throughout various low-capacity locations within their current service area. These system improvements will alleviate capacity issues currently plaguing the system. It will also create operating efficiencies and provide a reliable and viable water distribution system throughout north-central and northeast South Dakota and southcentral North Dakota. The federal funds will be leveraged with local funds to complete enhancements and provide an efficient and reliable water system for more than 41,000 rural residents served by WEB throughout 17 counties in North and South Dakota. • The City of Madison will use a $7,749,000 loan and a $2,091,000 grant to upgrade its water distribution system. It will replace an aging water tower with a larger capacity tower and update aging water mains throughout various sections of the city. These improvements will transform the aging, inadequate facility into a modern, full capable facility to serve the community’s 6,474 residents. • The Town of Pierpont will use a $585,000 loan and a $737,000 grant to make improvements to the sewer system. It will replace sewer mains, manholes and service lines. It will also make improvements to its sewer lagoons. These upgrades will replace old lines and repair the collection system. The federal funds will be leveraged with local funds of $30,000. The population served is 135. • The City of Herreid will use a $1,721,000 loan and a $1,340,000 grant to make improvements to the sewer collection system. It will replace outdated collection lines throughout the community. These improvements will help alleviate inflow and infiltration caused by deficiencies in the system and will provide a modernized sewer system for the community’s 438 residents. Local funds will be used in conjunction with the leveraged funds to accomplish the enhancements and provide a more unified sewer collection system. • The City of Britton will use a $845,000 loan and a $118,000 grant to make improvements to the storm sewer collection system. It will replace outdate collection lines and install additional curb and gutters in various areas in the city. These improvements will help the flow of drainage throughout the community. This project will serve this rural community of 1,250 residents. USDA is making investments in rural communities in: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force. To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB). USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. SD Army National Guard To Undergo Force Structure And Stationing Changes RAPID CITY, S.D. - The South Army Total Force initiatives and Dakota Army National Guard will are an evolutionary response undergo unit force structure, to an ever-changing operational task organization and relocation environment characterized by changes beginning next year to emergent threats, changing force optimize its organizational readi- structure to meet operational ness and capabilities to respond needs, and greater reliance upon to state and federal missions. the National Guard as an operaAs part of the reorganizational force for the U.S. Army. tion, the SDARNG will deactivate "We will plan for and implethree units, activate three new ment these changes to ensure units, relocate Summer AC Tune-Up! Save $30 on a six units to exist- we maintain a high state of ing National Guard communities, readiness with the right mix of and close its armory in De Smet. capabilities across the state," The majority of the changes are said Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch, expected to be completed adjutant general of the SDNG. Just give us a call and we’ll by September 2020. "These changes will enhance send out a qualified are a part of U.S. the National Guard to meet the The changes operational Service Technician like demands of Tyler, to make sure your the future in AC unit is ready for those support of MOTOR its war-time hot summer South Dakota NIOBRARA, NE mission and Tyler Reiser days and save $30!* response to Service PATRICK HAWK Technician state emer251 Spruce Ave • Box 260 13 years experience gencies or Niobrara, NE 68760 natural disaswww.moodymotor.com ters." pjhawk@hotmail.com (402) 857-3711 The (800) 745-5650 Fax (402) 857-3713 reorganiza- MOODY tion and relocation of units will maximize resources, training and facilities, ensure efficient mission command for operational readiness, develop more cohesive units, match units in communities that optimize recruiting demographics for future projected growth, and ensure coverage of state mission requirements. The SDARNG will increase its overall force structure allowance from 3,012 to 3,097, adding 85 soldier positions and allowing more opportunities for people to serve. The force structure changes include the deactivation of three units: 139th Brigade Support Battalion based in Brookings; Company A, 139th BSB in Watertown; and Company B, 139th BSB in Mitchell. Replacing these units will be the activation of the 109th Engineer Battalion and a Forward Support Company to be based in Rapid City, and the 665th Surface Maintenance Company in Mitchell. Scheduled unit relocations will take place for the following units: *152nd Combat Sus- When You Want Comfort...You Want Kalins When You Want Comfort… You Want Kalins! Vermillion: 605-624-5618 *Rebate offer only available to Vermillion Light & Power customers. Call for full details. 69 years as a Premier Lennox® Dealer 97 years in the Business 400 years of Heating and Cooling Experience = Your #1 Choice in Yankton! Yankton Vermillion Sioux City 605.665.4348 605.624.5618 712.252.2000 kalinsindoor.com tainment Support Battalion from Pierre to Brookings *115th Signal Company from Brookings to Sioux Falls *155th Engineer Company from Rapid City to Wagner *Detachment 1, 155th Engineer Company from Wagner to Parkston *Detachment 1, 153rd Forward Support Company from Parkston to Huron *Detachment 1, 211th Engineer Company from De Smet to Madison As part of the reorganization, some units will be task organized under a different battalion headquarters to optimize stationing proximity and ensure effective command and control for operational, administrative, training and logistical support. "We strategically position forces and capabilities in the state to maintain readiness and allow the National Guard to respond in support of civil authorities," Reisch said. "As the National Guard continues to transform now and into the future, we will meet those changing needs and determine the best composition and locations to make us as efficient and effective as possible." The De Smet-based Detachment 1, 211th Engineer Compa- Holiday Early Deadlines ny, will relocate and consolidate with its company headquarters in Madison. The unit armory is currently co-located with the high school and their lease with the SDARNG will be terminated. Exclusive use of the armory space will be turned over to the school district and is expected to be completed by December 2019. While these changes will reduce the SDARNG's community presence from 22 to 21 state locations, it will not impact the organization's ability to respond to state mission requirements and support any communities. "It is with genuine sadness that we will be relocating from De Smet - a community that has supported the National Guard in a truly outstanding manner for decades," said Reisch. "We will continue to maintain our ties to De Smet through recruiting and support of community events, and there will be no change in our ability to respond to their needs should an emergency occur. "The National Guard is dedicated to serving the citizens of South Dakota and support of all of our communities," continued Reisch. "Never in our history, have we been better trained, equipped or more heavily relied upon than we are today." finding the right job is easier than you think December 25th Edition Deadline is Thursday, Dec. 20th at noon Deck the halls for less this holiday season ! Gift Cards Available www.goodwillgreatplains.org January 1st Edition Deadline is Thursday, Dec. 27th at noon The Missouri Valley Shopper will be closed on Tuesday, December 25th and Tuesday, January 1st. Happy Holidays from all of us at the... when you’ve got the right direction Stop searching. The Help Wanted section of the Missouri Valley Shopper lists many possible new job opportunities. 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