KANSAS CITY, KS, Apr. 2, 2009 -- In a move that stands to create thousands of jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for people in the State of Nebraska, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $19,500,000 to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. This new infusion of money will help state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.
"This funding will go a long way toward fixing aging infrastructure in urban and rural communities in the Region," said William Rice, Acting Regional Administrator. "Clean drinking water is essential for both healthy communities and healthy local economies. These funds will help fix aging infrastructure and provide good-paying jobs."
The funds provided by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 will go to the state's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program 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 will be awarded to fund drinking water infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery Act in the form of low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At least 20 percent of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects.
Since the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program began in 1997, EPA has awarded more than $8 billion in grants, which states have turned into $15 billion of financial assistance to fund drinking water projects. The revolving nature of the program ensures drinking water projects will be funded for generations to come.
>>More information on EPA's implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
>> Information on EPA's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program
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