FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      CONTACT: Donna Tommelleo, 860-524-7313

July 4, 2009                                                        donna.tommelleo@ct.gov

      Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced the state is receiving $19.5 million in federal stimulus funds to upgrade infrastructure for public drinking water in several cities and towns.

“Safe and adequate drinking water is an essential need for all of us and we will now have the resources to quickly move forward with many of these critical upgrades,” Governor Rell said.  “These funds will be used for projects considered ‘shovel-ready.’ The projects will help create immediate construction jobs and boost economies.”

Projects in the following towns will also receive stimulus funds for public drinking water upgrades: Ridgefield, Plainfield, Putnam, Brookfield, East Lyme, Tolland, Greater Hartford, Woodbury and Norwich.

The Governor said the state Department of Public Health will administer the funds through its existing Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program. DPH officials say 50 percent of the $19.5 million are for subsidized loans for “shovel ready” projects. The remaining funds will be used for long-term low interest loans and to administer the program.

DPH received more than 160 applications for drinking water funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The agency held a public hearing June 1 on its stimulus plan and draft priority list. Testimony from hearing was considered in choosing the projects. (List attached.)

The federal stimulus act requires that priority be given to projects ready for actual construction within 12 months of ARRA enactment date of February 17, 2009.  Priority was based on public health criteria established for DPH’s drinking water fund program, construction readiness and Governor Rell’s green project goals.

To view the drinking water projects visit the state’s stimulus Web site at www.ct.gov, click on the CT Recovery link and go to the Accountability section.

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