Gwinnett's stimulus funding at $120M

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett County leads other major metro governments in stimulus funding, having received $120 million in federal grants since the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act was enacted in February.

“It’s not just county projects, but it’s overall benefited our population,” said Aaron Bovos, county finance director.

He pointed to the latest award, approved Tuesday, a $1.7 million grant from HUD to prevent homelessness and help displaced residents find new housing. The funds will go to the Norcross Cooperative Ministry, Mary Hall Freedom House, Partnership Against Domestic Violence and the Salvation Army.

The largest amount to date, $81.3 million, is committed to transportation projects that were ready for construction, including the $24 million extension of McGinnis Ferry Road across I-85.

Gwinnett Transportation Director Brian Allen credited the local option sales tax initiative for having so many projects “shovel ready.” Rights of way and engineering had already been completed on the five projects receiving funding, thanks to sales tax money, he said.

Another major benefactor is the Department of Water Resources, which received $18.5 million to support three major wastewater projects, according to acting Director Lynn Smarr.

The largest of the three awards is for the No Business Creek Tunnel project, under construction in south Gwinnett. Commissioners have accepted a $4 million federal subsidy and a $6 million loan at 3 percent interest for 20 years to complete the project.

The three-mile tunnel connects the No Business Creek pump station at Springdale Road to the Jack’s Creek Water Reclamation Facility off Brannan Road. It will transport and manage wastewater flows to either the expanded Yellow River Water Reclamation Plant near Lilburn or the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center near Sugar Hill. Life expectancy of the $55 million tunnel is at least 100 years.

The second major project received $5 million to use methane gas from the wastewater system to generate electricity that will help power the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources treatment plant. The money includes a $3 million subsidy and a $2 million loan.

The third grant, $3.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, will allow the county to build a receiving facility at the Hill plant for fats, oils and grease from restaurants and commercial food processors. The county will use the wastes to produce more methane to power its new electric generator, Smarr said.

Other area governments have not fared as well.

The city of Atlanta has commitment letters from federal agencies to receive $41 million in stimulus funding, according to the city’s finance department. Cobb County has been awarded $42.5 million in stimulus funding so far, and Fulton has received $59 million. DeKalb County has already received $29 million in stimulus funds.

Additionally, both Cobb and DeKalb have received commitments for about $90 million each in Recovery Zone Bonds issued to promote economic recovery. The interest paid on these bonds is partially subsidized by the federal government.