EAST LANSING — U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins announced $2,575,000 in loans and grants for two Upper Peninsula communities.

“This funding is the culmination of years of effort to improve safeguards and strengthen infrastructure,” said Fewins. “These are generational investments that will pay dividends for decades to come.”

The Village of Baraga, in Baraga County, will use a $1,272,880 loan and $727,120 grant to complete the third phase of improvements to its water system. The project will address health and sanitary concerns.

The City of Wakefield, in Gogebic County, will use a $575,000 loan to complete improvements to the water distribution system. The purpose of the project is to improve fire flows, water main transmission capacity, and to improve deficient and aging water infrastructure. This will significantly increase reliability of the system and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

USDA is financing these projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to help state and local governments, private nonprofits and federally recognized Tribes build and improve rural wastewater systems. The funding enables rural communities to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal and stormwater drainage.