The Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service awarded $1.398 million to the City of Russell on September 17, 2025, under the Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities program (CFDA 10.760), a Project Grant providing loan and grant funds to water and waste projects serving financially needy rural communities. The award runs through September 17, 2027, with place of performance in Russell, Iowa.
The program directs financial assistance toward rural areas and rural communities to ensure reasonable user costs for rural residents, businesses, and other users. RUS selection criteria emphasize population, low-income unemployment rates, and health and sanitary problems, with funding directed through USDA Rural Development offices at the local level. Nonfederal entities expending $750,000 or more in Federal awards annually must conduct a single or program-specific audit; those expending less are audit-exempt for that year.