U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA Rural Development Nevada State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad announced last week that USDA is investing in water infrastructure for the Yomba Shoshone Tribe in Nevada, which is located in a USDA’s Rural Partners Network community. The new water tank, water lines, fire hydrants, and other improvements will provide the community with clean drinking water and safe and sanitary wastewater systems.
The announcement was made at the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s Reservation Economic Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“When we invest in modern infrastructure for people who live in Tribal communities, we create a ripple effect that impacts everyone,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is committed to building our economy from the middle out and bottom up by bringing high-speed internet, clean water, and critical infrastructure to people in small towns and communities everywhere, especially in places that have been underserved for far too long.”
“We are proud to announce this investment in the Yomba Shoshone Tribe,” said Ingvoldstad. “As a part of our Rural Partners Network in Nevada, we listen to and engage with Tribal members, holding meetings and seminars to ensure our work is centered around the most pressing needs of the community. With construction beginning two weeks ago, we are one step closer to long-term, sustainable community health and safety for the Yomba Shoshone Tribe, on their terms.”
The project is being financed through the Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands Program.
The Yomba Shoshone Tribe in Nevada, a participant of USDA’s Rural Partners Network, will use a $772,000 grant to make water infrastructure improvements including replacing a water tank, installing water lines and fire hydrants, and making other improvements to increase efficiency and resiliency of the Tribe’s water system. These improvements will enable homes and buildings in the community access to safer water. The project is an example of how the RPN alliance of federal partners is helping communities access government resources to build critical infrastructure and support long-term economic growth where it’s needed most.
This project will ensure access to modern water infrastructure that will alleviate health risks for generations to come.
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