Ohio EPA Identifies 324 Water Projects for Stimulus Funding
Ohio EPA Director Chris Korleski on April 23 announced intended project priority lists that include 69 drinking water projects in 52 communities and 255 water pollution control projects in 164 communities to be offered funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Ohio EPA has issued draft Intended Use Plans (IUPs) and will hold a public meeting to take comments on the plans on May 7 in Columbus. U.S. EPA will need to approve the IUP prior to funds being awarded.
"This additional federal funding will provide jobs while also improving Ohio's worn water infrastructure," Korleski said. "Stimulus money will be combined with the state's existing assistance funds to spread economic recovery and improvements to as many Ohio communities as possible."The state agency will make 100 percent of stimulus funds available as subsidies, which is more than the 50 percent required in the Recovery Act. Non-Recovery Act funds will also be "mixed and matched" with Recovery Act funds to increase the number of communities able to receive infrastructure funding.
Matching funds for drinking water projects will be offered at 0 percent for 20 years for non-disadvantaged communities or 30 years for disadvantaged communities. For water pollution control projects, matching funds will be offered at 0 percent to 3.7 percent for a period of time ranging from 5 to 20 years based upon the specific type of project. (planning and design loans for 5 years or construction projects up to 20 years). The draft IUPs describe how Ohio EPA intends to distribute the funds provided from the Recovery Act, along with the distribution of traditionally available annual financial assistance from Ohio EPA's loan funds.