The grants are intended for cities of less than 10,000 inhabitants in 34 states and the territory of Puerto Rico.

In New Mexico, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, north of Santa Fe, will receive a loan of $ 610,000 and a grant of $ 1.6 million to improve its treatment plant. Federal officials say this will allow the tribe to expand service to more than 1,000 residents who are disconnected by treating 33% more water each day.

Vilsack was scheduled to tour the processing plant with Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, which serves a predominantly Hispanic and Native American district.

“The consequences of decades of disinvestment in physical infrastructure have been especially felt on communities of color. That’s why USDA is investing in water infrastructure in rural and tribal communities that need it most to help them rebuild better, stronger and more equitably than ever before, â€said Vilsack.

The announcement is part of a multi-state campaign by President Joe Biden and his administration to gain more support for a $ 973 billion infrastructure package that includes more than half a trillion dollars in new spending .

Among some minority communities, Vilsack has been the target of criticism for his handling of complaints of discrimination during his tenure as Secretary of Agriculture in the Obama administration.

African-American farmers have been angered by his appointment by Biden amid a wave of unanswered civil rights complaints. But in March, Vilsack announced a program that would write off the debts of ranchers of color.

A coalition of Hispanic and Native American cattle ranchers in New Mexico complained in 2015 of discrimination through arbitrary grazing license revocations, concerns validated by a report from the Office of Compliance, Policies , training and cultural transformation of the agency.

One of them still accuses the agency of the death of his cows ten years ago.

“I had to liquidate 250 animals overnight,” said Dave Sanchez, 61, of Chama, north of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo.

He says that during the Obama administration, Vilsack turned down numerous requests to meet and address the concerns of a large group of cattle ranchers in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

“We are really disappointed with Vilsack for what he did in the Obama administration. I don’t know why he’s coming to New Mexico. He didn’t want to meet Hispanic ranchers. He avoided us, â€Sanchez said Tuesday after learning of the visit.

The agency did not respond to requests for comment on the outcome of the complaints.

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Attanasio is a member of the Associated Press / Report for America Statehouse News Initiative corps. Report for America is a national, nonprofit service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to cover undercover issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.