Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced the investment of $53 million in 17 non-point source, drinking water and wastewater projects across 15 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

“The PennVEST Board of Directors today committed millions of dollars of precious financial resources in order to improve the environment and lay the foundation for economic growth,” Corbett said. “Communities all across the commonwealth will benefit from this investment.”

Of the $53 million, $44 million is for low-interest loans and $9 million is offered as grants.

The awards range from a $460,000 loan to design improvements to a wastewater collection and treatment system in Perry County that will protect local drinking water wells from contamination and stimulate the creation of 250 new jobs, to a $7.5 million loan/grant combination to improve the quality and safety of drinking water for customers of an authority in Erie County.

The funding comes from a combination of state funds approved by voters, federal grants to PennVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency and recycled loan repayments from previous PennVEST funding awards. Funds for the projects are disbursed after bills for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PennVEST.

A list of projects receiving funding is available online.

10/28/2013