Does your system need in-term financing?  ORWA and National City have partnered to help bring you an exclusive program.  Click Here for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rural Lorain County, Ohio Finishes Second out of 26,000+ for America's Best Tasting Drinking Water!

(Washington, D.C.) – If you’re looking for the some of the best tasting water in the nation, move to Rural Lorain County, Ohio.  In this rural community, all you have to do is turn the faucet for pure “Quality On Tap!”  

Rural Lorain was one of the top five finalists (Second Overall) at the 9th Annual Great American Water Taste Test winning the silver medal in the national competition.  The taste test is held each year on Capitol Hill in conjunction with the National Rural Water Association’s Annual Rally in Washington, D.C. 

NRWA represents over 26,292 rural and small utilities so it is quite a big deal to make it to the final competition where Rural Lorain competed against the top water systems from across America.  The town finished in the top five with the winner being Southampton, Massachusetts. 

The judges for the event were, EPA's Ben Grumbles, USDA's Teresa Lasseter, and

Melanie Rhinehart-VanTassell with U.S. Rep. Pomeroy’s office (ND). Each judge 
evaluated glasses of water from the five finalists measuring them on clarity, bouquet 
and taste. 

The other finalists included North Kingstown, Rhode Island; Lewes, Delaware; and 
Avilla, Indiana.  State Rural Water Associations conduct preliminary competitions 
selecting the best water from small and rural systems to represent their state at 
the national finals. 

Every April, the National Rural Water Association sponsors the Rural Water Rally 
and Great American Taste Test on Capitol Hill to give utility and state officials an 
opportunity to visit one-on-one with their Congressional representatives and discuss 
key water and wastewater issues.

 

 

Got Water?
 

We've had a lot of rain recently, and that is always a concern for those in the Water and Wastewater Industry.  These pictures were taken at the village of Laurelville’s wastewater treatment plant after a 2” rain which flooded the road in and out of the plant.

This is what 2” of rain did to Cedar falls, Hocking County, Ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

Other Issues for the Rural Community
 

Click Here for a short PSA on the digital TV conversion that will occur in

early 2009. This change stands to affect rural residents more than urban

residents and we are asking for your help in informing the public of the

need to get converters. A limited number of coupons are available to

help with the cost and the sooner TV viewers obtain them, the better. A

very informational website has been setup (www.dtv2009.gov) to assist in

the effort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USDA Rural Development Finances

Construction of Huron Water System  

COLUMBUS, OHIO, February 6, 2008 – Randall Hunt, state director for USDA Rural Development announced today approval of a $6,364,000 financing package to Northern Ohio Rural Water for construction of a new water distribution system for Huron and surrounding counties. The funding comes from Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.

 

“Funding construction and upgrades to water systems in Ohio’s rural communities remains a priority for Rural Development,” said Hunt. “Our efforts ensure local residents have access to clean, safe water and certainly help the community’s leadership address both health and quality of life issues.”

 

The funding will be used for the construction of a water distribution system which will serve 377 new customers located in Seneca, Sandusky and Huron counties.  The project will include construction of waterlines and an elevated storage tank.

 

Total funding for the project is $6,929,500 and includes $565,500 from Northern Ohio Rural Water.  

 

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in

home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE LOANS AND GRANTS 

            WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2008 – USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas C. Dorr today invited applications for six programs to help small towns and rural residents finance infrastructure improvements.

 

            “These loans, grants and loan/grant combinations will help communities provide essential services and maintain the infrastructure necessary for businesses and residents to enjoy a high quality of life in rural areas,” Dorr said.

 

      The six programs under which applications are being accepted are:

            The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant program was created to improve access to education and medical services through the use of technology.

 

            The Digital Public Television grant program provides funding to help rural public televisions stations install the digital transmission equipment that must be in place by February 17, 2009.  Digital Public TV grants also may be used for engineering and environmental studies associated with the transition to digital television. 

 

            The Community Connect Grant Program provides grants to telecommunications providers and municipalities to finance the installation of broadband service in rural communities where broadband is least likely to be available.  The High Energy Cost Grant Program provides grants for the acquisition, construction or improvement of energy generation, transmission or distribution facilities in communities where the average residential cost for home energy exceeds 275 percent of the national average.  The Revolving Fund Grant Program provides funds to non-profit entities for loans to finance predevelopment costs for water and wastewater projects, or for short-term capital projects that are not part of the regular operation and maintenance of current water systems.  The Household Water Well System Grant Program helps individuals finance the cost of household water wells.  Funds can be used to upgrade or replace water well systems and to increase the awareness of substandard drinking water systems in communities.

 

 

            For further details about eligibility rules and application procedures, see the January 28, 2008, Federal Register.

 

            USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested nearly $91 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.7 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov .

Grappling with the question of who should cover unpaid water bills left behind by tenants, a House panel adopted a new version of legislation Thursday that would limit landlords' liability for the delinquent accounts.
 

The House Local & Municipal Government & Urban Revitalization Committee adopted a substitute version of legislation (HB 103) that would leave landlords liable for up to $200 worth of their tenants' outstanding accounts. However, water companies and local governments oppose the measure, saying it would drive up consumer rates.
 

Click Here for the entire article on our Legislative Page...

 

 

 

Rural Development’s Homeownership Program Being Tapped at Record Levels

 

COLUMBUS, OHIO, Jan. 8, 2008 – While the sub-prime mortgage crisis has limited available credit to some low to moderate income families in Ohio, the USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Rural Housing (GRH) Loan Program has recently seen a dramatic increase in loan volume.  At the close of the federal fiscal year on September 30, 2007, Ohio obligated 1,112 loans totaling more than $99 million - a 24 percent increase over the 2006 loan volume.  And, during the first three months of this fiscal year, Ohio has seen an 88 percent increase in the number of homeownership loans.  

 

“We’ve always offered a reliable, fixed-rate product so homeowners can have total predictability about their mortgage payments,” said Rural Development State Director Randy Hunt. “With the current instability in mortgage financing products we think Rural Development’s guaranteed home ownership loan program offers homeowners the best option available.”

 

Along with a fixed rate of up to 30 years, the GRH homeownership program requires no down payment, no Mortgage Insurance (PMI), and is available in all rural areas of Ohio.

 

The Hunt family from Orville, Ohio used Rural Development’s GRH loan program to finance their home. “We wouldn’t have been able to purchase our home without the Rural Development loan program,” said Christopher Hunt. “This is the perfect home in our price range. We are so blessed with the whole process.”

 

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.