Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Bob Martineau on Thursday announced that two communities, one of which is Jasper, have been approved to receive more than $800,000 in low-interest loans for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.
“The State Revolving Fund Loan Program helps citizens enjoy a better quality of life by assisting communities with current and future infrastructure needs for improved health,” said Governor Haslam.
Tennessee’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program has awarded more than $1.9 billion in low-interest loans since its inception in 1987. Tennessee’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $300 million in low-interest loans since its inception in 1996.
“Clean water is the lifeblood of our communities,” said Mr. Martineau. “Investments in our drinking water are essential to maintaining environmental and public health.”
Through the SRF Program, communities, utility districts, and water and wastewater authorities can obtain loans with lower interest rates than most can obtain through private financing. Interest rates for loans can vary from zero percent to market rate based on each community’s economic index. Loans utilizing EPA grant funds can include a principal forgiveness component.
TDEC administers the SRF Program in conjunction with the Tennessee Local Development Authority. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides grants to fund the program, and the state provides a 20 percent match. Loan repayments are returned to the program and are used to fund future SRF loans.
The funding order of projects is determined by the SRF Program’s Priority Ranking Lists that rank potential projects according to the severity of their pollution and/or compliance problems or for the protection of public health.
Town of Jasper (Marion County) – The Town of Jasper will receive $599,471 for an Infiltration and Inflow Correction project, which will include rehabilitation/replacement of 8-inch and 10-inch diameter sewerlines and manhole rehabilitation in the Downtown Area. The project will be funded with a 20-year, $569,497 loan with an interest rate of 1.45% and $29,974 in principal forgiveness that will not have to be repaid.
Town of Jasper (Marion County) – The Town of Jasper will also receive $150,529 for the Infiltration and Inflow Correction project described above. The project will be funded with a 20-year, $150,529 loan with an interest rate of 1.45%.
Town of Carthage (Smith County) – The Town of Carthage will receive $65,000 for Water Treatment Plant Improvements. The project will be funded with a 20-year, $65,000 loan with an interest rate of 1.23%.
Any local government interested in the SRF Program should contact the State Revolving Fund Loan Program, Tennessee Tower, 12th Floor, 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243, or call (615) 532-0445. Additional information about the SRF Loan Program may be found online at www.tn.gov/environment/srf.