13 Colorado projects in rural and tribal communities selected, investments will create thousands of jobs
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet celebrated the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) award of over $170 million to 13 Colorado projects in rural and Tribal communities to expand access to safe drinking water and reliable energy. The funding is part of a $1.3 billion nationwide investment from USDA to make our water infrastructure and our electrical grid more resilient to extreme weather and create thousands of good-paying jobs in the process.
“Where you live shouldn’t determine if you have clean water to drink or reliable electricity to keep the lights on,” said Hickenlooper. “From Rocky Ford to Silverton, these investments will create thousands of good-paying jobs while expanding access to safe drinking water and reliable energy. ”
“Everyone deserves access to clean and safe water, no matter where they live. However, far too many rural communities in Colorado face the challenges of aging or unsafe water infrastructure. I’m glad towns from Holly to Del Norte will receive this federal support to help them continue delivering reliable, clean water to Coloradans across the state,” said Bennet.
The federal investments come from the USDA’s Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants Program and the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. The funding is divided between over $127 million in grant funding and over $42 million in federal loans to the 13 Colorado projects.
A full list of selected projects is below:
| Recipient | Grant Awarded | Loan Awarded | Description | Location |
| San Miguel Power Association | N/A | $29,784,000 | Build and improve power lines, invest in smart grid technologies | San Miguel County |
| Hunter Solar | N/A | $38,285,000 | Provide long term financing of a 75 MW solar farm | Arapahoe County |
| Meadow Mountain Water Supply Company | $1,974,000 | $441,000 | Repair failing water distribution system | Allenspark, CO |
| Town of Silverton | $2,764,000 | $2,165,000 | Improve wastewater treatment facilities | Town of Silverton |
| Sedalia Water and Sanitation District | $5,045,000 | $561,000 | Help replace an aging water distribution system and connect the system to Castle Rock’s water system | Douglas County |
| Town of Holly | $6,189,000 | $4,740,000 | Construct a new well and treatment plant and improve system efficiency | Town of Holly |
| Town of Walsh | $4,404,000 | $1,550,000 | Upgrade the water treatment system | Town of Walsh |
| Montezuma Water Company | N/A | $15,300,000 | Modernize the water system to increase capacity, install new water pumps | Montezuma County |
| Town of Del Norte | $11,018,000 | $12,010,000 | Replace undersized and failing water piping and add fire hydrants to extend firefighting coverage | Town of Del Norte |
| Town of Bethune | $2,662,000 | $1,523,000 | Decommission existing treatment plant and construct a new 3-pond evaporation system | Town of Bethune |
| Marble Water Company | $455,000 | $1,158,000 | Install new distribution lines, fire hydrants, and water pumps | Town of Marble |
| City of Rocky Ford | $7,935,000 | $20,351,000 | Replace problematic sections of the existing water system | City of Rocky Ford |
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