Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Announces Clean Water Initiative to Help Missouri Communities
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that the state will issue $50 million in bonds to assist Missouri communities who are facing problems related to drinking water and wastewater treatment.
"The Clean Water Initiative is designed to help Missouri communities meet their water needs," Blunt said. "Communities can use this funding to provide safe drinking water and to protect Missouri rivers and lakes."
While these bonds have been authorized in the past, they were not issued until Gov. Blunt took the initiative to do so. The loans and grants from the Clean Water Initiative will be administered by the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Water Protection Program and are limited to counties, municipalities, and water or sewer districts. The department has initially allocated the $50 million in funds as follows:
- $16 million for 40 percent State Construction grants for wastewater related projects,
- $12 million for rural sewer grants targeted for rural and special needs communities,
- $12 million for rural drinking water projects
- $10 million in direct loans for water or wastewater projects, including planning loans for wastewater facilities.
For more information about the Clean Water Initiative contact Connie Patterson with DNR at (573) 751-1010.