(DALLAS) – Local municipalities have until December 21 to apply for grants to assist with clean water, sanitary sewer, and storm water projects, according to Senator Lisa Baker (R-20), who urges local municipalities to apply. The special funding was made available to Pennsylvania through federal support from the American Rescue Plan.
According to Senator Lisa Baker, the General Assembly approved use of $320 million to help communities across the commonwealth improve the reliability and quality of their water systems. A total of $214.4 million was directed to the H2O Grant Program and $105.6 million was directed to the Small Water and Sewer (SWS) Grant Program. Both programs are overseen by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).
“These grant programs are an important resource that can be used to help protect our local water supplies and ensure our communities have access to safe drinking water,” said Senator Lisa Baker. “Helping our local governments to fund these vital projects is important to public health, our environment, and economic development.”
Senator Lisa Baker explained that the high cost often associated with maintaining water and sewer systems can necessitate collaboration between state and local governments, so that local taxpayers are not unduly burdened.
The grant support will range from $30,000 to more than $500,000, and can be used to assist with the construction, improvement, expansion, rehabilitation, or repair of a water supply system or sanitary sewer system, and for storm water system projects.
The online application for the H2O Grant Program and the Small Water and SWS Grant Program can be submitted now, thorough December 21. Cities, townships, boroughs, counties and municipal authorities are encouraged to apply at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us. Grant awards are highly competitive and will likely be announced in July of 2023.
MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Williams Twilliams@pasen.gov (570)-675-3931