Rep. Bradley, Sen. Hedlund announce funding for Cohasset clean water project

May 5, 2009

BOSTON— State Representative Garrett Bradley, D-Hingham, and State Senator Robert Hedlund, R-Weymouth are pleased to announce that the System Wide Capital Improvement in Cohasset has become eligible for assistance through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as the Obama Administration is making $133 million available for Clean Water SRF projects and $52 million available for Drinking Water SRF projects.

The System Wide Capital Improvement Program in Cohasset was chosen as a Drinking Water Project is eligible for $3,063,942.  This project is essential for protecting public health and the environment.

“I am pleased that Cohasset is beginning to benefit from the Federal Stimulus Funding being distributed to Massachusetts.  It is critically important that we maintain and improve our sources of clean, safe drinking water," Rep. Bradley said.

To be eligible for Clean Water or Drinking Water SRF funding, municipalities, wastewater districts and water suppliers filed applications with the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection last year demonstrating that the proposed projects offer significant public health or drinking water quality benefits. The projects on the awards list must now obtain local funding authorization by August 1, and submit final plans and specifications by August 1 to qualify for Recovery Act “shovel-ready” funding. Projects that fail to qualify for Recovery Act funding will be awarded 2 percent loans and must submit their plans and specifications by October 1.

“These low-interest loans will provide real and actual savings for the taxpayers,” Sen. Hedlund said. “This funding is also reflective of the long-term plan put together by Cohasset town officials and approved by the town’s voters to replace the town’s aging water infrastructure.”