City of Wewahitchka Receives Federal Stimulus Dollars for Water Project

 WASHINGTON-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the selection of more than $123 million in water and environmental projects that are being funded immediately through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The projects will help provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment systems for rural towns and communities in 24 states.

In Gulf County, the City of Wewahitchka has been selected to receive $5.44 million to provide funding for a centralized water system for the residents of Stone Mill Creek community and to replace the city's 30- year-old storage tank. The centralized water system for Stone Mill Creek community will ensure quality drinking water and provide adequate water pressure for fire protection.

The Wewahitchka project was one of just two in Florida to receive these funds.

 "The water and wastewater projects support the Obama administration's goal of rebuilding and revitalizing our country's rural infrastructure and putting people to work by doing the work that Americans want done." Vilsack said. "These Recovery Act investments will provide reliable drinking water and sanitary waste disposal while creating and saving jobs in rural America."

The 24 states where projects are located include: Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

USDA Rural Development's Water and Environmental Program provides loans and grants to ensure that the necessary investments are made in water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment in rural areas. More information about USDA Rural Development can be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov. Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.

President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on February 17.

It is designed to jumpstart the nation's economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.

The Act includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.

More information about USDA's Recovery Act efforts is available at www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal government's efforts on the Recovery Act is available at www.recovery.gov.