Elizabethton, Carter County receive grants for water construction projects

Published 11:35 am Friday, January 6, 2023

Both the City of Elizabethton and Carter County are among recipients of grants from Tennessee’s American Rescue Plan, part of which the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is administering in the form of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants.

Carter County will receive a collaborative grant of $7,487,770 in conjunction with the Carderview Utility District, City of Elizabethton, First Utility District of Carter County, Hampton Utility District, Peters Hollow Water System, Roan Mountain Utility District, Siam Utility District, South Elizabethton Utility District, and Watauga River Regional Water Authority plan to utilize ARP funding to support 21 drinking water projects. These projects will address critical priority areas including the establishment of an Asset Management Plan, replacement of old water lines, and reducing significant water loss in the distribution system.

The City of Elizabethton was awarded a non-collaborative grant of $2,431,279. The City plans to utilize ARP funding to complete the second phase of its water meter installation project. This project will allow continuous monitoring of the system through customer meters, production meters, and zone meters at pump stations and greatly reduce losses from unexpected leaks.

Overall, TDEC awarded 24 grants totaling $125,954,007 from the state’s American Rescue Plan fund.

The grants announced Friday follow the announcement of 18 grants totaling $72,496,030 from the ARP fund in August and October, bringing the total awarded by TDEC year-to-date to $198,450,037. The grants announced this week include two collaborative grants and 22 non-collaborative grants to execute drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure planning, design, and construction projects.

Tennessee received $3.725 billion from the ARP, and the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $1.35 billion of those funds to TDEC to support water projects in communities throughout Tennessee. Of the $1.35 billion, approximately $1 billion was designated for non-competitive formula-based grants offered to counties and eligible cities. The remaining funds will go to state-initiated projects and competitive grants.

“These grants will address important water infrastructure needs throughout our state, especially those among disadvantaged communities,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “We look forward to the improvements the projects will bring, and we commend the communities who have gone through the application process.”

“More than ever, infrastructure is critically important to our local communities,” said Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge. “This money will allow cities and towns to address deficiencies and make improvements that will pay dividends not just in the present but in the years to come as well. I greatly appreciate the work of the governor and my colleagues on the Fiscal Accountability Group for their work in making sure these funds were spent appropriately and efficiently.”

“We continue experiencing considerable growth across the state, and many of our communities require additional resources to address their evolving needs,” said Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. “These grants will play a major role in ensuring cities and towns have access to infrastructure solutions that will enable them to continue thriving so Tennessee remains a preferred destination for both businesses and families.”

“We are grateful to the local applicants, and we anticipate excellent results from these grants,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “This shows that Tennessee recognizes the need for improved water infrastructure, and we are grateful for the leadership of Governor Lee and the General Assembly in seeing that communities get this assistance.”