USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Glen Smith Speaks at NRWA WaterPro Conference, Visits Rural Arizona Project Sites

(Phoenix, Ariz., September 17, 2026) - On Tuesday, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Under Secretary Glen Smith spoke at the National Rural Water Association WaterPro Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, to highlight $773 million the Trump Administration has invested in rural Arizona since January 20, 2025, supporting critical infrastructure and economic development.

Representatives from the office of Congressman Eli Crane (AZ-02) joined the events. "I'm grateful to State Director Lori Urban and her team for facilitating this year's WaterPro Conference and working to strengthen Arizona's long-term water security," said Representative Crane. "This week brought Under Secretary Glen Smith and state directors from across the country to Arizona for briefings and tours of critical infrastructure. By visiting facilities benefiting from federal investment, officials got a firsthand look at the impact these projects are having in Arizona. These successes serve as a model for the rest of the nation. Director Urban has been an instrumental partner throughout her tenure, and we appreciate her service representing the Trump administration on behalf of rural Arizonans."

Following his remarks, Under Secretary Smith toured USDA-funded project sites in Gila and Pinal counties with community leaders to see firsthand how these investments are supporting rural Arizona communities.

Projects Visited:

• Tri-Cities Regional Sanitary District, Globe-Miami Once complete, this wastewater collection and treatment facility will serve approximately 5,500 residents and address severe contamination issues due to failing septic systems and cesspools leaking into the groundwater, as well as leaking sewage down the streets during hard rain.
  
• Superior Multi-Gen Facility, Superior Using funding to make interior improvements and bring a historic building (previously Superior High School) up to code, this project will allow the city of Superior council chambers and administrative offices to relocate, as well as offer services to the town's 2,400 residents, such as a community kitchen, senior center, business accelerator, classrooms, and community event spaces.
  
• Superior Wastewater Treatment Plant, Superior The town's wastewater treatment plant, which was built in 1974 and deteriorating, required rehabilitation to maintain compliance and continue serving the whole community.
  
• Sun Life Family Health Center, Casa Grande With a $52 million loan guarantee from USDA Rural Development through Magnolia Bank, Sun Life Family Health Center, Inc. constructed a four-story $63 million Health Clinic in Casa Grande. The facility is about 110,000 sq. ft., consolidated existing Sun Life facilities located around the area to a state-of-the-art medical campus increasing health services and providers to better serve the residents of the area and Pinal County. Providing area residents with primary care, OBGYN clinic, pediatric medicine, behavioral health services, imaging (x-ray, MRI, ultrasound), along with outpatient and pharmacy services, it also allows increased workforce training, residency and educational programs to assist with the increase in providers to a growing, and medically underserved area.
  
• Maricopa Renewable Natural Gas 1, LLC, Maricopa A $50 million loan supports this innovative facility to convert cow manure into renewable natural gas to be inserted into a nearby pipeline and ultimately used for transportation fuel. This project generates important revenue for the local workforce and economy overall in this area.
  
• Exceptional Health Care Maricopa LLC, Maricopa USDA Rural Development invested in a state-of-the-art facility, including digital imaging, an in-house laboratory, and outpatient and inpatient hospital beds for acute admissions and overnight observation of patients, making overall improvements to healthcare access and care standards in the Maricopa area. The facility is the first specialty internal medicine hospital and 24-hour emergency department in this rural community that serves 43,482 residents.

USDA Rural Development is committed to investing in rural communities, so they remain strong, self-sufficient, and positioned for long-term growth.

Discover more investment details and historical data in the Rural Data Gateway and learn more about the agency at www.rd.usda.gov/az .

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