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EPA Announces More Than $88,000,000 in Recovery Act Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in Florida to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health

Release Date: 05/19/2009
Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293, marraccini.davina@epa.gov

(ATLANTA – May 19, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment in the State of Florida, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $88,074,000 million to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water infrastructure that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.

“This is the second investment of EPA Recovery funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Florida,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator in Atlanta. “It will provide a boost to Florida’s efforts to address its aging water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment while creating green jobs.”

The Recovery Act funds will go to the state's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. The program also emphasizes providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water. An unprecedented $2 billion dollars will be awarded to fund drinking water infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery Act in the form of low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At least 20 percent of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects.

Since the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program began in 1997, EPA has awarded more than $8 billion in grants, which states have turned into $15 billion of financial assistance to fund drinking water projects. The revolving nature of the program ensures drinking water projects will be funded for generations to come.

President Obama signed the ARRA on Feb.17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

For information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Region 4, visit: https://www.epa.gov/region4/eparecovery

For information on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program visit: https://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf