Paden City Mayor Bill Fox, along with councilmen for the city, broke ground last week to mark the beginning of a multi-million dollar sewer project.

The scope of the project involves the replacement of 7,135 feet of sewer line and the replacement of 150 manholes throughout Paden City.

Funding for the task comes courtesy of a $1,715,000 USDA Rural Development Loan procured more than three years ago. Engineering services were provided by QK4, a firm based out of St. Albans, W.Va. Contracting for the project will be handled by Mike Enyart and Sons, Inc. of South Point, Ohio.

Rural Development serves as the lead Federal entity for rural development needs and administers program assistance through its housing, business, community and infrastructure programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Further information on USDA Rural Development may be obtained by visiting USDA’s web site at “http://www.rurdev.usda.gov”>www.rurdev.usda.gov. In West Virginia, call 1-800-295-8228 to be put in touch with the appropriate personnel serving your county. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

Bobby Lewis, the State Director for Rural Development in West Virginia, offers his congratulations to Paden City on this important project.

Ripley Area Office staff involved in this project were Virginia McDonald and Jennifer Bruce.