Five of the loans include water conservation activities and qualify for a reduced interest rate.
Approved Loans:
· Braselton was awarded a $156,000 Georgia Fund loan.
· Claxton was awarded a $1,850,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan.
· Elberton was awarded a $2,500,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan.
· Flowery Branch was awarded a $1,500,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan.
· Pooler was awarded a $3,224,884 Georgia Fund standard loan and a $3,029,056 Georgia Fund water conservation loan.
· Thomaston was awarded a $2,700,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan.
· Unadilla was awarded a $521,869 Georgia Fund loan.
Project and Loan Details:
Town of Braselton
The $156,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance constructing a chemical feed system and building for the town's groundwater treatment facility. The town will pay 0.70 percent on the 10-year loan. Georgia Fund policy reduces the current interest rate to communities that have earned the WaterFirst designation from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, which recognizes communities for excellence in water stewardship. The total project cost is $156,000, with GEFA providing the entire amount.
City of Claxton
The $1,850,000 DWSRF loan will finance replacing water mains, adding loops, rehabilitating a water supply well, replacing water meters, making software upgrades, and replacing fire hydrants. The city will pay 0.85 percent interest on the 20-year loan, which includes principal forgiveness of up to $500,000, if all loan funds are drawn. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because portions of the project are eligible water conservation activities. The total project cost is $1,850,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount. In the last seven years, GEFA has financed more than $79 million in water-efficiency and conservation projects.
City of Elberton
The $2,500,000 DWSRF loan will finance completing water treatment plant renovations and create a connection to the city of Bowman's water system. The project will also replace water mains, add loops, extend water mains and replace water meters. The city will pay 1.11 percent interest on the 20-year loan, which includes principal forgiveness of up to $500,000, if all loan funds are drawn. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because portions of the project are eligible water conservation activities. The total project cost is $2,500,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount. In the last seven years, GEFA has financed more than $79 million in water-efficiency and conservation projects.
City of Flowery Branch
The $1,500,000 CWSRF loan will finance assuming ownership of the existing Cinnamon Cove treatment plant and to transfer the wastewater entering the plant to the city's treatment plant. Flowery Branch has signed an agreement with the Cinnamon Cove homeowners association to assume treatment of this flow using the city's existing capacity. The city has an existing wastewater discharge into Lake Lanier with a phosphorus allocation inadequate for future expansion. This project will allow Flowery Branch to assume the Cinnamon Cove phosphorus allocation, thereby allowing the city to increase the discharge capacity of the plant. The construction project will consist of pumping stations and pipelines to transfer the Cinnamon Cove wastewater to Flowery Branch. Flowery Branch will pay 1.40 percent interest on the 20-year loan. The total project cost is $1,500,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount.
City of Pooler
The Georgia Fund standard loan will finance installing 4,400 linear feet of 12-inch water lines to the existing water main to provide fire protection along Quacco Road, constructing a well house, and installing a pump station and the necessary appurtenances to complete the project. The city will pay 2.40 percent on the 20-year loan. The total project cost is $3,224,884, with GEFA providing the entire amount.
The Georgia Fund water conservation loan will finance installing 21,000 linear feet of 10-inch PVC reuse water line from the city's water system to the Nordic Cold Storage facility. The project will also replace 2,700 water meters, retrofit 3,500 existing meters with wireless transmitters, and install two tower receivers and the necessary appurtenances to complete the project. The city will pay 0.70 percent interest on the 10-year loan, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate because it's a water conservation project. The total project cost is $3,029,056 with GEFA providing the entire amount. In the last seven years, GEFA has financed more than $79 million in water-efficiency and conservation projects.
City of Thomaston
The $2,700,000 DWSRF loan will finance replacing approximately 4 miles of failing water mains within the Hightower subdivision and Thomaston's central commercial district. Thomaston will also install new hydrants, valves, service lines, and meters that will connect to the existing water mains in the project area. The city will pay 0.5 percent interest on the 20-year loan, which includes principal forgiveness of up to $500,000, if all loan funds are drawn. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate because it's a water conservation project. The total project cost is $2,700,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount. In the last seven years, GEFA has financed more than $79 million in water-efficiency and conservation projects.
City of Unadilla
The $521,869 Georgia Fund loan will finance drilling a well, constructing a well house, purchasing .25 acre of land, installing approximately 6,500 linear feet of 8-inch force main to connect the deep well to the water system and the necessary appurtenances to complete the project. The city will pay 2.40 percent on the 20-year loan. The total project cost is $521,869, with GEFA providing the entire amount.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/1/270480