ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) awarded nearly $18.4 million in grants and loans for a new water treatment plant and supporting infrastructure in Morris that will reduce water hardness for residents and reduce the discharge of chloride into the environment. 

 

The funding includes a $7 million grant from the Point Source Implementation Grant Program, a $5 million grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund and a $6.4 million low-interest loan from the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund. The 1.1 percent, 30-year loan will save taxpayers nearly $1.6 million compared with the cost of a conventional loan over that period. 

“Communities across Minnesota face serious water quality challenges,” said Gov. Mark Dayton. “Last spring, I worked with the Minnesota Legislature to establish grants that help cities afford to make water quality improvements. This grant will help Morris to provide the clean and affordable drinking water that its citizens deserve.” 

 

“Morris residents will have better-quality, pre-softened water when the project is completed,” said Shawntera Hardy, who chairs the PFA board and is commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “The project also will improve the environmental impact of the plant on the nearby Pomme de Terre River.” 

 

The Water Infrastructure Fund provides supplemental grants based on affordability criteria to help communities build water treatment projects that address existing environmental or public health problems. Grants from the program are packaged with PFA loans or federal loans and grants. 

The Point Source Implementation Grant Program provides grants to help cities upgrade water treatment facilities to reduce their discharge of specific pollutants to meet water quality restoration and protection goals. 

 

The Drinking Water Revolving Fund helps communities build drinking water storage, treatment and distribution systems that comply with standards in the Safe Drinking Water Act. The program has awarded more than $800 million in low-interest loans for 400 projects around the state since it was launched in 1999. The funding has provided more than $171 million in interest savings to local governments and taxpayers. 

 

The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority provides financing and technical assistance to help communities build and maintain infrastructure that protects public health and the environment and promotes economic growth. Since inception in 1987, the PFA has financed $4.5 billion in public infrastructure projects in communities throughout Minnesota. Read more at the PFA website.