Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón and Cabo Rojo Mayor Roberto “Bobby” Ramírez Kurtz announced the approval of $ 2,208,575.00 in federal funds to improve the operations of the Cabo Rojo municipal landfill.
“We are pleased to have been part of the approval of this aid so that the municipality of Cabo Rojo can attend to this public health situation that benefits about 50,468 residents. We met with the federal Rural Development agency, we sent letters, we followed up and today together with Mayor Ramírez we can announce the first loan from this agency for landfills in Puerto Rico in a long time, “said the resident commissioner.
Mayor Roberto “Bobby” Ramírez Kurtz said that the loan approved by the Rural Development agency will be invested in the construction of a new cell to deposit solid waste in the Cabo Rojo Municipal Landfill, which will allow it to extend its useful life for another 10 years.
He reported that since the end of 2016 the employees of the Autonomous Municipality of Cabo Rojo, together with Rural Debelopment staff, began to work on the project, obtaining the loan approval on February 26, 2020. “I thank this team for the efforts made for the past four years, for the benefit of the people of Caborrojeño. ”
He recalled that the work team also obtained that the Environmental Quality Board issue the construction permit on March 15, 2018, as well as compliance with the requirements of state and federal agencies for the new cell in the municipal landfill.
Rural Development, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the loan of $ 2,208,575.00 requested by the Municipality of Cabo Rojo to carry out important works to extend the useful life of the municipal landfill. It is a 25-year loan at an interest rate of 2.7%. The proposed construction of a new cell will allow the facility to serve rural communities for years to come.
“The objective of our credit assistance is to provide the necessary resources to the Municipality of Cabo Rojo to improve the operation of the landfill. The proposed new cell, 2-B, to be developed within the authorized plan of the current landfill property, will be designed in accordance with current state and federal regulations. The project will also extend the useful life of the existing facility from 8 to 10 years to benefit residents and nearby rural communities who need long-term sanitary landfill services, “said Josué E. Rivera, State Director for Puerto Rico Desarrollo Rural
This approval of the loan for the municipality of Cabo Rojo is part of the announcement made today by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) about the agency’s investment of $ 281 million in rural infrastructure improvements in 36 states and Puerto Rico from the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Applicants who were eligible include rural communities, towns, and water districts. The funds can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage, and waste disposal systems in rural communities that meet population limits.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Bette Brand indicated that “these investments will bring modern and reliable infrastructure in relation to rural water and wastewater. They will replace damaged and leaking water pipes with new ones and update decades-old water management systems. These investments create jobs and improve the public health and safety of our rural neighbors.
Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Perdue, the USDA is committed to partnering with rural communities to help them improve their infrastructure, because when rural America thrives, all of America thrives. “
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