Loans to fund three water, sewer projects in NE Ga.

ATLANTA - Water and sewer infrastructure projects in seven Georgia communities - three in northeast Georgia - will receive help from $5.7 million in loans.

Five of the seven projects were funded all, or in part, with federal stimulus dollars for a total of $3 million.

The three in northeast Georgia are in Elbert and Pickens counties and the City of Ila.

Gov. Sonny Perdue announced the loans on Tuesday. They were approved by the board of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.

Perdue said investment in the state's water and sewer systems stimulates the economy and promotes stewardship of the state's natural resources.

In addition to those listed above, loans were also approved for projects in Douglas and Paulding counties and the cities of Smithville and Waycross.