Contact: Scott Holste, (573) 751-0290
Channing Ansley, (573) 751-0290
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 6, 2015
Gov. Nixon announces $1.1 million in clean water grants; discusses need to rebuild Missouri’s aging water systems
Governor’s budget proposal includes $70 million in bonding to assist communities with water system upgrades
WILLARD, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today visited Willard City Hall in Greene County to discuss the importance of clean water and to announce $1.1 million in Small Community Engineering Assistance Program grants, through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, to help communities with wastewater engineering costs.
“For many communities, the local water treatment systems are old, and outdated. This puts local streams and waterways at risk of pollution and in turn, puts nearby communities that rely on these resources for drinking and recreation, at risk as well,” Gov. Nixon said. “That’s why my budget this year includes the resources to rebuild these aging water systems, and to ensure that we leave Missouri’s waters better than we found them.”
In his State of the State Address last month, the Governor highlighted the need to rebuild Missouri’s aging water systems for the benefit of the economy, environment and public health. In addition to the grants announced today, the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal includes $70 million in bonding to address wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs throughout the state.
“Before a community can begin repairing or upgrading its water treatment system, they’ll need an engineering plan to make sure it’s done right, and in a way that’s most efficient and effective for taxpayers,” Gov. Nixon said. “To assist communities like Willard, we’ve created this grant program to help get that important process started.”
The Small Community Engineering Assistance Program, funded by fees generated through the state’s revolving loan fund, is available for municipalities, counties, public sewer or water districts, political subdivisions or instrumentalities of the state with a population of less than 10,000. The program offers funding for wastewater engineering costs incurred in preparation of a facility plan or engineering report.
Through the Small Community Engineering Assistance Program, communities may be eligible to receive an 80 percent grant with a 20 percent recipient match, with the grant amount not exceeding $50,000.
The City of Willard has been awarded a $40,000 grant through this program to commission an engineering report to address issues with stormwater entering the wastewater collection system. When stormwater enters a wastewater system, it can cause the wastewater system to overflow resulting in wastewater that is not fully treated prior to its release into a watershed. The engineering report for Willard is projected to be completed this April.
The other communities that have qualified for a Small Community Engineering Assistance Program grant announced today by Gov. Nixon include:
|
Recipient |
County |
Award Amount |
|
City of Charleston |
Mississippi |
$50,000 |
|
City of Jonesburg |
Montgomery |
$50,000 |
|
City of Moscow Mills |
Lincoln |
$50,000 |
|
City of Oak Grove |
Jackson |
$50,000 |
|
City of Vienna |
Maries |
$50,000 |
|
City of Weston |
Platte |
$50,000 |
|
City of Wright City |
Warren |
$50,000 |
|
City of Aurora |
Lawrence County |
$48,000 |
|
City of Hollister |
Taney |
$48,000 |
|
City of Lockwood |
Dade |
$48,000 |
|
City of Miller |
Lawrence |
$48,000 |
|
City of Cassville |
Barry |
$40,000 |
|
City of Peculiar |
Cass |
$40,000 |
|
Gravois Arm Sewer District |
Morgan |
$40,000 |
|
City of St. Paul |
St. Charles |
$37,400 |
|
City of Lancaster |
Schuyler |
$34,400 |
|
City of Clarksburg |
Moniteau County |
$32,000 |
|
City of Hunnewell |
Shelby |
$32,000 |
|
City of Ironton |
Iron |
$32,000 |
|
City of Kingsville |
Johnson County |
$32,000 |
|
City of Liberal |
Barton |
$24,000 |
|
City of Centerview |
Johnson County |
$23,780 |
|
City of Ewing |
Lewis |
$21,600 |
|
City of Old Monroe |
Lincoln |
$21,600 |
|
City of Chaffee |
Scott |
$20,000 |
|
City of Ellington |
Reynolds |
$20,000 |
|
City of Exeter |
Barry |
$20,000 |
|
City of Hartville |
Wright |
$20,000 |
|
City of Scott City |
Scott |
$20,000 |
|
City of Seymour |
Webster |
$16,500 |
|
City of Kelso |
Scott |
$16,000 |
|
Village of Monticello |
Lewis |
$12,000 |
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