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Gov. Holcomb announces $436 million will be invested in Indiana's water infrastructure

Loan will create more than 3,000 jobs for Hoosiers
Gov. Eric Holcomb
Posted at 2:31 PM, Oct 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-09 14:44:49-04

INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday a $436 million loan would be spread throughout the state to support Indiana's water infrastructure.

The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan will help finance wastewater and drinking water projects in 20 communities across the state. Indiana has over 46,000 miles of water infrastructure, according to Holcomb.

Holcomb joined Andrew Wheeler, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, at the Statehouse on Wednesday to announce the funding planned to aid drinking water and wastewater projects.

The Indiana Finance Authority will be able to provide 28 loans to 20 Indiana communities because of the WIFIA loan provided by the EPA.

Drinking water projects include improving water treatment plants, storage tanks, distribution system components, wells, and pump stations. The drinking water projects will also incorporate implementing water conservation measures.

The WIFIA loan will additionally create more than 3,000 jobs for Hoosiers.

"Delivering clean water and protecting public health are top priorities, and I am grateful that our partnership with the EPA will help empower communities across Indiana to take our water systems to the Next Level," Holcomb said.

"This WIFIA loan will improve water quality and protect the health of Hoosiers across the state while delivering on President Trump's commitment to upgrade our nation's infrastructure, create jobs and safeguard public health and the environment," Wheeler said. "With this loan closing, EPA has now issued 13 WIFIA loans totaling over $3.5 billion in credit assistance to help finance over $8 billion for water infrastructure projects and create over 15,000 jobs."

Nearly $900 million in total will go to support water infrastructure in Indiana after combining all of the state's resources. That includes annual federal capitalization grant dollars and the WIFIA loan.