Two Buena Vista County communities—Linn Grove and Sioux Rapids—are set to receive more than $800,000 in federal funding to upgrade and repair their water infrastructure. The grants come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, part of a larger $152 million investment in rural projects across Iowa announced on August 9.
Sioux Rapids will receive $477,000 through the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant to replace a well that was severely damaged during last summer’s historic flooding.
Sioux Rapids Mayor Jim Wise explains the project.
Meanwhile, Linn Grove will benefit from a $319,000 federal grant and a $282,000 loan to connect to the Iowa Lakes Regional Water Supply and overhaul its aging water system, which also suffered flood damage.
Linn Grove Mayor Aaron Anderson describes the project.
Anderson says work on the project will begin on Wednesday and last two to three months, weather permitting. He expressed gratitude for the funding.
These projects are among 19 statewide initiatives aimed at strengthening rural infrastructure. The USDA’s funding package supports improvements in water and wastewater systems, healthcare facilities, transportation networks, and economic development across 20 counties.
Federal and state officials say the investments are designed to enhance rural prosperity, support agricultural communities, and encourage private sector growth in Iowa’s heartland.
