| Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack celebrated Earth Day by announcing record support for 116 projects that will improve water and wastewater services for rural Americans and benefit the environment.
Among projects funded this year, six are in the State of West Virginia and five of those six projects lie in persistent poverty areas that are part of USDA's "StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity."
Ellenboro-Lamberton Public Service District in Ritchie County will receive a loan of $470,000 and a grant of $383,500 to partially finance the project to resplace certain sections of waterline and extend public water service to an additional 28 households.
The project will involve the removal and replacement of 4,600 feet of deteriorated waterline, the installation of 18,400 feet of new waterline to service the additional customers, and the placement of new control and pressure reducing valves.
| 
