Ga. water projects get $144 million in stimulus funds

Georgia’s water will get a little bit cleaner and healthier, thanks to $144 million in federal stimulus funds.

The funds will help improve both drinking water and sewer-related water, according to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.

“There’s a lot of need for water and sewer infrastructure in the state,” said Shane Hix, spokesperson for GEFA.

The water projects should create new jobs around the state, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. There is no word just yet on how many jobs could be created, officials from both agencies said Wednesday.

“This award marks a significant investment of EPA funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Georgia,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator in Atlanta. “We are embarking on an unprecedented effort to create green jobs and protect human health and the environment.”

Communities all over Georgia have applied for chunks of the money to fund projects. And while the stimulus dollars will help dozens of projects, many others will remain unfunded.

Requests for funding for more than 16,000 projects totaling $6 billion have been submitted. That list has been narrowed.

“We will approve projects until we run out of financing,” Hix said.

One project has been approved already — Madison Industrial Development Authority will get $2.3 million.

The CEFA board of directors, which approves the projects, will hold its monthly meeting on June 16.