Kansas

USDA Rural Development has announced that Trego County Rural Water District #2 has been recognized as the Agency's 2005 Silver Faucet Award winner. The District was presented the award, recognizing their outstanding efforts in servicing their customers, by USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks at the Kansas Rural Water Association's annual conference in Wichita.

"Trego County Rural Water District #2 is very deserving of the Agency's Silver Faucet Award. The District's perseverance and dedication in overcoming many challenges to meet their goal of providing a reliable source of quality water for rural residents of Ellis, Ness and Trego counties is to be commended. I congratulate the District on an outstanding job," remarked State Director Banks.

In the late 1980's a group of farmers/ranchers in this part of northwest Kansas began to look for solutions to address the problems of an inadequate water supply in their area. Trego County Rural Water District #2 was ultimately organized to provide domestic and stock water to living south of Cedar Bluff Reservoir and north of Interstate 70. Since 1993, USDA Rural Development loan and grant funding provided to the District has totaled $9.8 million to finance critically needed water service for the rural residents in this area.

Each year USDA Rural Development presents the Silver Faucet Award to a water supply system in Kansas that exemplifies the qualities of cooperation, dedication and leadership in providing both high quality and quantity water service to rural water users.

During Fiscal Year 2004, USDA Rural Development in Kansas administered an all-time record $152 million in financial assistance in Kansas. In addition to an overall increase in program funding of nearly 50% over the past four years, this level of Agency programming represents the fourth consecutive year of + $100 million in funding for Kansas. USDA Rural Development programs cover a wide scope of development assistance, including funding for business and homeownership loans, community facilities, rural water service and value-added agriculture products.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs that support increasing economic opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for rural Americans. As a venture capital entity, USDA Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure in rural America. For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development and its programs, log onto the Agency's website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks or call the USDA Rural Development state office at 785-271-2700.

Date: 4/21/05