ATLANTA - Five communities, four of them in north Georgia, havew been awarded financing totaling $7,598,828 for water supply, waste water and solid waste infrastructure projects by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA).
The executive committe of GEFA approved the following loans for the following projects on Tuesday.
City of Auburn
*Auburn was awarded a $546,000 Georgia Reservoir and Water Supply Fund planning loan as part of the Governor’s Water Supply Program (GWSP).
The $546,000 Georgia Reservoir and Water Supply Fund planning loan will finance the necessary state and federal permits for the construction of a new reservoir, and the engineering design for the pumping stations, force mains, storage tanks and the water treatment plant. Auburn will pay 2.82 percent interest on the 10-year loan. The total cost is $546,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount.
City of Cleveland
*Cleveland was awarded a $2,100,828 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan.
The $2,100,828 CWSRF loan will finance sewer system improvements along Truelove Road, as well as replace gravity sewer and force main. A new pump station, lift station and generator will be installed. Cleveland will pay 1.82 percent interest on the 20-year loan. The total cost of the project is $3,900,828, with the city obtaining additional funding from a $500,000 OneGeorgia grant, a $1,000,000 Economic Development Administration grant, and a $300,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant.
City of Jasper
*Jasper was awarded a $1,800,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan.
The $1,800,000 CWSRF loan will finance modifications to the existing aeration basin, install chemical feed systems, convert an existing chlorine contact chamber to an ultraviolet disinfection unit, and construct tertiary filters to meet the new permit limits for phosphorus and chlorine residual. Jasper will pay 1.82 percent interest on the 20-year loan, which includes principal forgiveness up to $140,000 if all loan funds are drawn. The total cost is $1,800,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount.
Barrow County Water & Sewerage Authority
*The Barrow County Water and Sewerage Authority was awarded a $2,102,000 Georgia Reservoir and Water Supply Fund planning loan as part of the GWSP.
The $2,102,000 Georgia Reservoir and Water Supply planning loan will finance a study on the need for additional water supply sources. Once a preferred water supply option is selected, the Barrow County Water and Sewerage Authority will identify any needed mitigation and apply for the necessary state and federal permits. The county will pay 2.82 percent interest on the 10-year loan. The total cost is $2,102,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount.
These loans, in additon to a loan provided to the city of Waynesboro, come under the direction of Gov. Nathan Deal, who directed GEFA to develop and launch the GWSP. The purpose of the program is to align and mobilize the resources of the state of Georgia to assist local governments with developing new sources of water supply adequate to meet future water demand forecasts.
