In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment in the state of Georgia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $54,775,000 to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water infrastructure that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.
“This award marks a significant investment of EPA funds from the ARRA in Georgia,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA acting regional administrator in Atlanta. “With this investment, we are embarking on an unprecedented effort to create 'green' jobs and protect human health and the environment.”
The ARRA funds will go to the state's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program, which provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. The program also emphasizes providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water. An unprecedented $2 billion dollars will be awarded to fund drinking water infrastructure projects across the country under the ARRA in the form of low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At least 20 percent of the funds are to be used for green infrastructure, water- and energy-efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects.
For more information on EPA’s implementation of the ARRA in Region 4, visit www.epa.gov/region4/eparrecovery.
For more information on the DWSRF program, visit www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/.
Source: U.S. EPA
