The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) released its plan to administer its portion of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies directed to Tennessee, outlining the department’s approach for improved water infrastructure in communities across the state, according to a Friday press release.
The Volunteer State was allocated $3.725 billion from ARPA which is designed to help Americans recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. A condition of the funding from ARPA is that spending must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and expended by December 31, 2026. The Water Infrastructure Investment Plan was developed by TDEC based on input provided by leaders and experts from agencies internal and external to the state government, the press release reports.
Governor Bill Lee invited state agencies and stakeholders to submit proposals for consideration in the comprehensive Tennessee Resiliency Plan, developed in response to the American Rescue Project. As previously reported by The Tennessee Star, the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group has dedicated $1.35 billion of the state’s total to water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects. TDEC is charged with administering the program and has issued its Water Infrastructure Investment Plan to outline the process.
“These funds will help us address critical needs in water infrastructure in communities throughout our state,” Governor Lee said in a statement. “We are engaging leaders from counties across Tennessee and want to apply these funds with the most efficient and helpful process as possible.”
TDEC Commissioner David Salyers also released a statement, saying, “We are eager to provide Tennesseans with quality water service wherever it is needed. While this initiative won’t cover all of our needs in this area, it will be a major step forward, and we look forward to the upgrades this program will bring.”
The agency noted that “of the $1.35 billion from the ARPA, approximately $1 billion will be offered in the form of non-competitive grants to communities for eligible infrastructure projects;” adding, “$269 million of the total will go to state-initiated projects, and the remaining funds will go toward competitive grants.”
TDEC said it will host a virtual town hall on the plan December 20, where Tennesseans may learn about the process, accessible here.
Webinars on the plan will be held on January 18, 2022 from noon-1 p.m., on January 19 from 3 p.m.-4 p.m., and January 20 from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. In-person grant workshops will be offered across the state in February and March 2022.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
TEDC should NEVER be given any authority. Spend the money on something important like grass skirts for all school children. What a waste!