STATEHOUSE (Feb. 10, 2020) — Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) recently announced Columbia City in Whitley County will receive $700,000 in grant funding to improve its local wastewater and drinking water systems, said State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington).
Columbia City is one of 29 communities selected to receive a grant through the Wastewater and Drinking Water Program and will be awarded the maximum grant amount, $700,000, to contribute to the $9,110,000 total cost of the project. Columbia City is required to match 20% of the total project cost, but has exceeded this expectation by nearly tenfold, contributing $8,410,000 to its wastewater and drinking water improvement project.
Many communities in Indiana struggle with inadequate water supply and failing wastewater treatment. OCRA is committed to improving the quality of water and wastewater in Indiana and assisting in financing appropriate water and sewer infrastructure for communities and counties that have planned and set priorities for long-term development.
“Columbia City is proving that it is dedicated to improving local water systems, as officials have committed more than $8 million to the project,” Zay said. “In addition to the OCRA grant, this will allow the city to invest in the future health of those living in the area, and I’m proud of the hard work our local leaders have put into securing this funding.”
The Wastewater and Drinking Water (WDW) program aims to protect the health and environment of communities, reduce utility rates for low-to-moderate income towns and cities and improve rural infrastructure to enable long-term economic growth.
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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Zay, click here.
