The grants and low-interest loans, to be distributed through the Environmental Protection Agency, will go to 41 wastewater clean-up projects and 42 drinking water projects throughout Vermont. The funds, which were made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will help municipalities finance overdue improvements to wastewater and clean drinking water projects essential to protecting public health and the environment, while creating new jobs in Vermont.

The delegation members made the announcement in St. Albans, which will receive $2 million in direct funding and low-interest loans to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility. The ARRA funding will allow St. Albans to move forward with the project, which will reduce pollution into Lake Champlain and provide for future development in the city and town.

Sanders and Welch were joined at the event by Mayor Marty Manahan, St. Albans Town Selectboard Chairman Bill Nye and St. Albans City Manager Dominic Cloud.

The wastewater ARRA funding will support wastewater treatment plant upgrades in Brattleboro, South Burlington, Pawlet and St. Albans; pump station improvements in Essex and Hartford; solar panel projects in Montpelier, Troy and Jay; and major sewer upgrades in Springfield, Glover, Bradford and Waterbury. The clean drinking water ARRA funding will support projects in 42 schools and municipal water districts throughout Vermont. For a complete list of the wastewater projects, click here, and for a list of the drinking water projects, click here.

Sen. Leahy said, "By investing in communities' water and wastewater infrastructure, we can help promote smart growth, protect Lake Champlain and other natural treasures, and sow the seeds of economic growth.  The work that will be done this year and next will help put engineers, contractors and many others back to work.  The long-term benefit of these projects will make our state a better place to live and work for future generations and for all Vermonters."

Sen. Sanders said, "These grants are another example of how the economic recovery package is helping Vermont and states across the country rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and in the process creating millions of good-paying jobs."

Rep. Welch said, "Throughout our state, Vermonters are seeing the results of our federal economic recovery investment. Bridges are being built, roads are being paved and, soon, cities and towns will be able to make long overdue improvements to critical wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. These funds will create jobs, provide much-needed assistance to Vermont municipalities and decrease our impact on the environment."