IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          From Congressman Bill Jenkins

June 20, 2006                                                                                           Contact: Paul Mays (423) 247-8161

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A $300,000 federal loan to improve water and sewer facilities in Cocke County has been approved.

Congressman Bill Jenkins said this week the funding is provided by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and will be used for a cost overrun on a 2005 water project in Del Rio.

Jenkins said the project consists of eight miles of water lines, a 500-gallon storage tank and a booster pump station.

Fifty new water users will benefit from the project, the congressman related, including an elementary school. The project is co-funded with a $346,480 earmark from local funding.

The loan carries an interest rate at 4.375 percent for a term of 38 years.

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