**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:**

Tammi Schone - (605) 352-1102

# FALL RIVER WATER USERS DISTRICT CONSTRUCTS NEW WELL

***[USDA Rural Development Funds in the Amount of \$756,500 Assists With
Project]{.underline}***

**(Oral, South Dakota -- April 21, 2008)** The United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development South Dakota Area Director Tim
Potts and Specialist Dave Adrian today presented Fall River Water Users
District with a check representing a loan in the amount of \$756,500 to
add an additional water source to their distribution system.

"This project will assist the Fall River Water Users District in meeting
the growing demand that is being placed on the system due to several
years of drought in southwestern South Dakota," said Rural Development
State Director Mike Jaspers. "USDA Rural Development is committed to
providing investment financing and an improved quality of life for local
residents."

The area has suffered from ongoing drought and the water system has been
exceeding the expected water usage over the past few years. The proposed
well will connect to the main distribution system of the Fall River
Water User District's water lines. The project will benefit all users of
the system by providing the district with an additional safe and
reliable water source. Rural Development's funds will be leveraged with
an applicant contribution of \$14,000 and Bureau of Reclamation funds in
the amount of \$275,000 for a total project cost of \$1,045,500.

"This well project will be of enormous benefit to the member users of
Fall River Water Users District. The Board of Directors would like to
take this opportunity to thank Tim Potts and David Adrian of the Rapid
City office of Rural Development and Jay Larson of Midwest Assistance
for their help in securing the funds to enable this project to go
forward," said David Dunbar, the Chairman of the Fall River Water Users
Board of Directors.

In 2007, the Fall River Water Users District was also awarded a loan in
the amount of \$853,000 and grant in the amount of \$275,000 to expand
the system to hook up additional users within their water user's
district boundaries that had previously not been served. This area lies
in Northern Fall River and Southeastern Custer Counties. These Federal
funds will be leveraged with an applicant contribution of \$68,000, a
Community Development Block Grant of \$565,000, a Consolidated Grant
from the State of SD of \$350,000 for a total project cost of
\$2,111,000.

In South Dakota, Rural Development provides valuable loan and grant
programs, loan guarantees and technical assistance to finance and foster
growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community
and technology infrastructure. Rural Development invested more than
\$259 million in fiscal year 2007 and \$1.9 billion over the past 10
years in South Dakota's economy.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and
improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has
invested more than \$76.8 billion since 2001 for equity and technical
assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business
development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More
than 1.5 million jobs have been created or saved through these
investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a
local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at
[[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov]{.underline}](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/).

**- USDA -**