Friday, January 27, 2017
Contact: Mike McGill
mike.mcgill@cfpua.org
(910) 622-8472
House Bill 943 – Connect NC Bond Act of 2015 – included $309 million for water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the state. The Act provided CFPUA with the opportunity to receive $16.45 million in grant funding to restore aging sewer collection pipes and pump stations at higher risk.
The Act also presented CFPUA with the opportunity to shift funds that would have gone to specific restoration work and focus it on forward-thinking projects like the construction of services along the U.S. 421 Corridor.
CFPUA staff reviewed our Ten-Year Capital Improvements Plan, identified necessary projects, and applied for the funding before the September 30, 2016 deadline. The projects included:
- Seven pump stations and their associated force mains which are reaching the end of their useful life, susceptible to flooding, and/or presenting safety concerns;
- Preventative repair of sewer mains 40 years or more in age located under main roads; and
- An asset inventory and assessment project to analyze sewer infrastructure in Historic Downtown Wilmington.
The money available through the state grants must be matched by funding from CFPUA. As a result, CFPUA’s Board reviewed the applications and approved their submission to the state in September. Once at the state level, Sen. Michael Lee advocated for their approval because of their clear benefit to not only CFPUA’s customers, but to anyone who calls the area home.
Late yesterday afternoon, the State published the results of the application process; all of CFPUA’s applications were approved. “The funding will help us accomplish several goals. It will bolster our existing infrastructure, add to our ability to protect the environment, and allow us to move forward with new construction in support of our area’s economic development. We would like to thank Sen. Lee for his strong support,” said Jim Flechtner, CFPUA Executive Director.
“This funding is just another example of how CFPUA and our stakeholders at the county and state levels come together to resolve important infrastructure issues for the betterment of our community,” said Mike Brown, CFPUA Board Chair. “The opportunity to apply grant funding to the repair and replacement of aging infrastructure frees up resources for the construction of new services which will help boost our local economy.”
CFPUA would also like to thank our staff, who, when presented with the opportunity to benefit our customers, worked quickly and thoroughly to present the best possible applications for approval. As one can see from the results, their work on behalf of our customers was of the highest quality.
CFPUA’s Board must approve of the use of cash reserves to match the $16.45 million granted by the state. Discussion is expected at our next board meeting on February 8, 2017.