FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robbie Wilbur 601/961-5277
September 9, 2009 MDEQ ANNOUNCES FIRST WASTEWATER PROJECTS TO RECEIVE ARRA/WPCRLF FUNDING
(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced today that four communities have been approved for subsidized low-interest loans for wastewater infrastructure improvements. The funding is being made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and the Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund Program administered by MDEQ. The ARRA portions of the funding are loan subsidies which will not have to be repaid. The WPCRLF portions will be repaid at a 1.75 percent interest rate over 20 years. Approval for additional projects in Mississippi will be announced soon.
“We are pleased to award funds to these outstanding applicants. Properly constructed and maintained wastewater facilities are integral to protecting our environment and the public’s health,” said Trudy Fisher, MDEQ Executive Director.
Loans were approved for the following recipients:
●Town of Decatur (Newton County) – will receive $1,299,734 for the construction of an influent pump station and other improvements to their wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure.
●City of Tupelo (Lee County) – will receive $1,007,750 for the construction of 5,440 linear feet of wastewater interceptor replacement line.
●Town of Falkner (Tippah County) – will receive $271,000 to convert its lagoon and overland spray field system to a Hydrograph Control Release System.
●City of Raymond (Hinds County) – will receive $381,900 for the rehabilitation of 5,200 linear feet of sewer collection lines, 200 vertical feet of manhole rehabilitation, and other miscellaneous work.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) appropriated $4.0 billion for Title VI EPA Capitalization Grants to the states’ Clean Water State Revolving Funds. Mississippi’s Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund (WPCRLF), administered by MDEQ, received $35,308,350. ARRA funds will be used, along with base WPCRLF Program loan funds, to jointly fund projects with the ARRA portion of each award in the form of a loan subsidy
Prior to final passage and enactment of ARRA, MDEQ conducted a comprehensive outreach campaign to alert potential borrowers of the possible availability of federal economic recovery stimulus funding. MDEQ then amended the FY-2009 WPCRLF Intended Use Plan to implement the funding in the most efficient manner, while providing the most benefit to the state. Details on the application and award process are in the amended Intended Use Plan which is available at:
http://www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf/pdf/SRF_FY-09IUPAmendment1/$File/IUPFY-09AmendmentNo1FINAL.pdf?OpenElement.
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