Maryland was handed nearly $122 million Tuesday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund drinking water projects and improve water quality as part of the federal government's latest round of stimulus spending.
The stimulus effort, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, was advanced by President Barack Obama to jump-start the economy by improving the nation's infrastructure and creating and saving jobs. The money has begun steadily flowing to states through a variety of programs that are expected to improve roads and schools, as well as waterways and other programs.
Every county is expected to receive some funding as grants or loans. The awards are expected to start in July. Two projects in Baltimore met the initial criteria for some funding: a $230,000 project under design in the Carroll Park area of Baltimore and a $125 million project in the bidding phase at the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Carroll Park project will get the full amount, while $6 million is slated for Patapsco.
Officials from the Maryland Department of the Environment were joined by members of the congressional delegation in accepting the water grant money from the EPA during a ceremony alongside the Anacostia River in Bladensburg, where some of the money will be used.
They said the funds will create hundreds of jobs in the state through infrastructure construction, in addition to protecting public health and cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay.
State officials drew nearly 600 applications for the money from every corner of Maryland, and 95 projects valued at about $119 million made the initial cut because they met the initial criteria, which included being "shovel ready" and having a strong health or environmental impact. The small difference in the award from the federal government will go to administrative costs.
In total, almost $93 million will be used for pollution reduction projects that include wastewater treatment and sewer upgrades and storm water runoff controls.
More than $26 million will go to improvements for drinking water treatment, water storage and wells.
"I want to thank President Obama and Maryland's federal delegation for working so hard to secure these Recovery and Reinvestment funds," Gov. Martin O'Malley said in prepared remarks.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the money will help update the state's aging water system without burdening local taxpayers.
