St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Public Facility Authority (MPFA) today announced more than $44.2 million in loans and grants to 15 wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects throughout the state.

The MPFA helps cities replace aging infrastructure and make system improvements to protect public health and improve water quality. Since its inception in 1987, the MPFA has provided $6.9 billion for public infrastructure programs statewide.

"MPFA funding has profound impact on our communities, improving not only our economy but our environment, as well," said Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner and MPFA Chair Matt Varilek. "By prioritizing clean and accessible drinking water, we are working to ensure the wellbeing of our communities for years to come."

"Our goal at the MPFA is to provide financing and technical assistance for communities that might not have access to it otherwise, leading to economic growth and prosperity and continued achievement of high standards for clean water and safe drinking water," said MPFA Executive Director Steve Walter. "Providing capital to guarantee secure infrastructure is one way we continue to make those goals a reality."

The MPFA administers and oversees the financial management of revolving loan funds and other programs that help local units of government build facilities for clean water, drinking water and transportation infrastructure projects. Funding for these projects primarily comes from the MPFA's Clean Water Revolving Fund (CWRF) and the Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWRF). The CWRF helps communities build or upgrade wastewater treatment plants to comply with discharge standards in the federal Clean Water Act, and the DWRF helps communities build drinking water storage, treatment and distribution systems that comply with standards in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Projects can also receive funding from MPFA's Point Source Implementation Grant program, Water Infrastructure Fund and Small Community Wastewater Treatment Program. In some cases, funding can be provided by specials state appropriations, the USDA Office of Rural Development and local sources.

Projects and MPFA funding amounts are listed below. Funding details for each project are available on the MPFA website.

Aitkin, $2,348,190

Replacement of an undersized and aged water tower to provide adequate water delivery for the region.

Appleton, $3,543,680

Funding for two projects: one to rehabilitate a sanitary sewer and the other to replace the watermain on Schlieman Avenue.

Crosby, $3,539,610

Funding for two projects: one to replace the sewer main and the other to replace the watermain between Main Street and 2nd Street Southwest; and 3rd Avenue Southwest and 3rd Avenue Southeast.

Detroit Lakes, $9,883,495

Construction of a new 1.5-million-gallon water tower and removal of existing tower.

Eveleth, $694,679

Installation of a watermain.

Henning, $7,287,909

Improvements to the Henning water treatment facility.

Kandiyohi County, $47,000

Evaluation of wastewater alternatives for the South/Southwest areas on Big Kandiyohi Lake.

Mazeppa, $5,000,000

Installation of a new wastewater treatment system with a new lift station, pre-treatment facilities and aeration, disinfection and bio-solids processing and storage facilities.

Roscoe, $60,000

Evaluation of wastewater alternatives for the city's large subsurface sewage treatment system.

Silver Lake, $3,114,000

Improvements to the collection system and pond control structure, and construction of a new lift station.

St. Paul, $568,334

Removal of accumulated sediments and improvement of maintenance access and hydraulic and water quality performance at the Flandrau-Case stormwater pond, including expansion of the basin's permanent and flood storage volume.

Tower, $6,055,636

Upgrades to a treatment plant, seal four wells and rehabilitate or demolish pump houses.

Winsted, $2,085,408

Installation of a new well.