DNR presents Cape Girardeau with $1.8 million in Recovery Act funds for drinking water improvements

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 26, 2010 – During a ceremony held today, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources presented the city of Cape Girardeau with a $1,000,000 grant and an $840,721 loan for drinking water improvements. This project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or Recovery Act. In addition to the Recovery Act funding, the department also provided a $159,279 in state revolving fund loan.
The Recovery Act provides significant funding to assist communities with infrastructure needs for water quality, wastewater and drinking water. This infusion of grant and loan funding will help the city protect its citizens and the environment by making necessary drinking water improvements.
The city of Cape Girardeau is no stranger to the department\'s State Revolving Fund Program. In fact, the city was one of the first cities in the state to receive a low-interest loan for more than $25,000,000 from the department back in 1998 when the program first began. The city has completed several projects with it first SRF funding including drill new wells. The current funding will help the city complete both projects and allow the city to no longer use the Mississippi River as its water source. The city will also use $1,735,000 in local funds. The project is estimated to cost $3,735,000 and is expected to be completed in August 2010.
The Department of Natural Resources received the Recovery Act funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The department\'s Water Protection Program will administer the grant and loan funds. The department is committed to working closely with communities to assist with funding efforts that support water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects as well as provide a financial savings.
For more information on the federal Recovery Act, visit www.recovery.gov. For more information on Missouri\'s transform initiatives, visit www.transform.mo.gov. For more information, contact the department\'s Water Protection Program, Financial Assistance Center, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or call 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1192 or visit the department\'s web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/srf.