[The Dropbox is HERE – for documents related to American Rescue Plan (ARPA) infrastructure funding.]
In these final pre-election weeks, ask your local candidates: Why does Jamestown and PTRWA continue to be left out of the hundreds of millions of dollars that the state of North Carolina and Federal Government have awarded for stormwater and drinking water infrastructure over the past two years?
In July 2023, towns and public water authorities in 40 North Carolina counties were awarded $223 MILLION in State Water Infrastructure Authority (SWIA) grant funding to help pay for 60 water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Greensboro was the only Guilford County recipient: $375,000 for a “Fairview Street stormwater control.”
In February 2024, a second round of SWIA grants totaling $238 MILLION was awarded. The Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority (PTRWA) received $500,000 for a project titled “PFAS Study – Reverse Osmosis Treatment System.” Was THIS the state’s response to PTRWA and High Point’s application for $120 MILLION to fund its reverse osmosis system?
No other Guilford County towns or authorities received grant funding from the second round.
In July 2024, a third round of SWIA grants totaling $254 MILLION was awarded by the state. No Guilford County towns, cities or public water authorities were selected to receive grant funding.
Below is the list of North Carolina towns and Public Works Authorities that applied for and were selected to receive SWIA grants in this third round. The awards ranged from $60,160 to the Town of Whitaker to $35 MILLION to the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority to pay for upgrades at its Southside WWTP (Wastewater Treatment Plant).
Four towns and public water systems received funding for pump station fixes. Six received funding for WWTP replacement, improvements and capacity increases. Seven received funding for assessment and removal of PFAS and forever chemicals. Eight received funding for sewer line improvements, planning and rehabilitation. Nine received asset inventory and assessment grants to help manage their water and wastewater systems. Eighteen received funding for lead pipe replacements and inventories.
The only federal funding and state grants Jamestown received in the past two years for infrastructure was $2.8 million – Jamestown’s share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, distributed from the federal government to the state to the counties to the towns.
