Rural Mississippi stands at a critical moment, and your support can make all the difference. The ‘Rural America Relies on Rural Development’ campaign is our grassroots movement to protect the USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs (USDA RD WEP)—programs that Mississippi communities rely on for clean water, public health, and economic stability.
Nationwide, only about 3,500 individuals and organizations have signed the pledge so far. That is far short of the 30,000 signatures NRWA CEO Matt Holmes says we need to convince Agriculture Secretary Rollins, DOGE, and President Trump to keep these programs alive. Mississippi must step up and lead the way!
Why It Matters to Mississippi
Affordability: USDA Rural Development grants and loans make water infrastructure upgrades possible without crushing small towns and rural water associations with debt.
Public Health: Clean water and reliable wastewater systems protect Mississippi families from preventable health risks.
Economic Strength: Strong water systems support jobs and keep rural Mississippi thriving.
Technical Assistance: The free technical assistance programs provided by the technical providers.
Visit RuralWaterStrong.org to read real stories of how these programs change lives—and why they’re in jeopardy if we don’t act.
Mississippi, Let Us Lead the Charge
Mississippi needs to have at least 1,000 pledges, and as of today, we have less than 200. Mississippi has one of the largest USDA Portfolio’s in the nation, so we should lead the charge in this movement.
Only Takes 30 Seconds to Act
Sign the Pledge: Add your name in a few clicks at RuralWaterStrong.org/pledge.
Spread the Word: If you are one of the many who have already pledged, thank you! I would ask you to share this broadly with your colleagues, neighbors, and friends in Mississippi’s water community to gather as many more signatures as we can. Every voice counts!
Track Our Progress: Zoom in on Mississippi on the dashboard and watch our state light up as pledges pour in.
This is our moment to show Washington that rural water is non-negotiable. Let us aim for 30,000 pledges and make Mississippi a powerhouse in this fight!
Together, we are #RuralWaterStrong.
Sincerely,
