USDA invests in water infrastructure for Illinois
On April 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA) Illinois State Director Jesus Ortega announced that farmer-founded EJ Water Cooperative, Inc. received $5,537,000 for the construction of a reservoir west of Holland, Ill. The new reservoir is one of the critical water upgrades the cooperative is making to provide reliable water to more than 16,000 residents across seven counties in rural Illinois.
“The USDA is committed to ensuring people in rural Illinois have access to safe, reliable water,” said Ortega. “This project champions the priority to meet the need for safe, clean water in the American heartland that is essential to rural prosperity.”
