05/21/2009 GAAS:256:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on $440 Million Recovery Act Funds for Water Quality Projects
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following
statement today on the approval of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(Recovery Act) money that will allow the state to allocate more than $440
million in funding to create jobs, protect water quality and improve drinking
water around California:
"This Recovery Act funding will create jobs while updating
sewage and water treatment facilities and supporting drinking water projects
that protect public health and the environment," said Governor Schwarzenegger.
"The State Water Board and Department of Public Health have been working for
months to identify shovel ready projects where work can begin within months,
meaning jobs for California communities and a much-needed boost to the state's
economy. I will continue to fight for every stimulus dollar that California
deserves."
The Recovery Act money will be distributed by the State
Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) and the California Department of
Public Health (CDPH). The Water Board will provide funds for $280 million in
water projects in the form of grants, zero-percent and one-percent loans to
finance much-needed sewer and sewage treatment projects in all parts of the
state. The money is administered by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund which,
in normal years distributes about a quarter billion dollars in low-interest
loans. Using stimulus dollars in a strategic manner, it will double the normal
amount and reach many communities which normally don't apply for loans.
CDPH has tentatively awarded $159 million in drinking water
grants to 75 awardees. More than 2,000 applications for $6.8 billion in funding
were made to the Department in February. The Department selected awardees based
on criteria in the federal Recovery Act that placed a premium on moving quickly.
The complete list is posted at http://ww2.cdph.ca.gov/services/funding/Pages/SRF.aspx.
A public hearing about the tentative awards is scheduled for
Tuesday, May 26 at the Crest Theater in Sacramento. The drinking water projects
are expected to create at least 2,800 new jobs. CDPH expects to encumber half
the funds by June of this year and the remaining half by early December. To
receive funding, all projects must break ground before February of next year.
