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U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack came to Alabama Wednesday to announce $4.9 million in new funding and attend the groundbreaking for a $1,024,000 grant and $112,000 loan funded project from USDA for a wastewater treatment facility in White Hall.

He was joined in White Hall by 7th District Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell, who was introduced by White Hall Mayor James Walker, for the event that included a groundbreaking ceremony attended by municipal, county and state officials.

Vilsack said, “In order for a community to grow to be able to expand economic opportunity they have to have decent water facilities. And this is going to help the community grow and that’s why the congresswoman has been so insistent on us investing in the infrastructure… $45 million dollars of infrastructure in her district alone on just water.”

Sewell said, “I am just so excited to be able to have this groundbreaking with the Secretary of Agriculture Mr. Vilsack.” She said, “It is a much needed project that will totally change the infrastructure needs of this community. And I’m just very excited that we were able to work with USDA, ADECA… It is a great example of leveraging state, local and federal funds on behalf of a community.”

Mayor Walker said, “This is a great time for White Hall. We’ve been kind of set aside. The sewage project is the first phase of infrastructure that creates jobs and economic development for the area.”

He explained that the project is a sewage system that includes facilities for treating the waste. “Each phase will have its own filtration system.”

According to Walker the first phase will take in just beyond Highway 80 to the school and the community and in between.  He said the second phase would take in the Trickem community. Third will be from the school back to the town. And the fourth will take in the community around town hall and County Rod 40.

He said, “I’m excited about it and in the coming months I’m going to be very aggressive in perusing this project and make sure that it continues on the course that it’s going. There is a lot of need for the infrastructure in White Hall.”

Vilsack other projects in the $4.9 million investment in the state, including: •The Water Works and Sewer Board of the town of Fort Deposit receiving a $29,580 WEP grant to determine the cost and feasibility of upgrading and expanding the water system.

•The Lowndes County Commission is receiving a $389,100 CF loan and a $41,000 CF grant to make upgrades and replace equipment for the emergency 911 system, which currently is not in operation.