The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority this week gave its approval to $63.8 million in low-interest loans and grants for 20 drinking water and wastewater projects in 16 counties.

In addition to noting the importance of this week’s projects to improving Pennsylvania's water resources, Gov. Rendell acknowledged the 20th anniversary of the PennVEST program.

"The four and a half billion dollars in affordable financing that this program has awarded to over two thousand projects since its inception 20 years ago has significantly improved the quality of Pennsylvania's water systems and the well-being of its citizens," Gov. Rendell said. "PennVEST represents an important part of Pennsylvania's environmental improvement and economic development efforts.

"The PennVEST Board continues it's commitment to residents with the approval of $59.9 million in low-interest loans and $4 million in grants to fund 20 clean water projects."

The awards range from a $67,415 loan to alleviate public health problems in Mercer County caused by leaking septic systems to an $8.4 million loan and $1.2 million grant to construct more than 14 miles of sewer collection and transmission lines and other facilities that will eliminate raw sewage discharges into streams and groundwater in Mifflin County.

A complete list of grant/loan awards is available online.

7/18/2008