Tester Announces $1.5 Million in Funding for Clean Water Projects

Cut Bank, Thompson Falls, & Plains Receive USDA Grants to Upgrade Wastewater Management Systems

(U.S. Senate) – Senator Jon Tester proudly announced today that three different Montana cities will receive more than $1.5 million in USDA Rural Development grants to help improve their wastewater systems.

“Clean water is integral to our health, our livelihoods, and our economy in Montana,” said Tester. “These grants will help improve wastewater management, upgrade aging infrastructure, and support rural communities. Investments in wastewater infrastructure are some of the smartest investments we can make.”

Cut Bank, Thompson Falls, and Plains will all receive funding to strengthen local infrastructure, upgrade wastewater systems, and improve public health in these cities.

“This is an important project that will keep our city viable for decades to come and provide much needed construction funding for our new wastewater plant,” Cut Bank Mayor Dan Raemaker said. “We’re very excited about this grant and want to thank Senator Tester for all his support on this project.”

The specific allocation of these awards is as follows:

• City of Cut Bank – a loan of $9,998,000 and a grant of $1,472,000 to construct a wastewater treatment plant and sewer main replacement and repair.
• City of Thompson Falls – a grant of $30,000 for engineering and environmental reports on wastewater system improvements and expansion. 
• Town of Plains – a grant of $30,000 for a preliminary report regarding channel mitigation which is impacting their wastewater treatment plant.

Tester has worked hard to improve water infrastructure in rural communities. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester has fought to increase funding for USDA Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Grant and Loan program, which provided the funding announced today. Tester has also championed funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which invests more than a billion dollars in water infrastructure each year.