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The Portland Water District will receive $4,507,169 in federal
economic stimulus funds to replace aging water infrastructure. The
funds will allow the Portland Water District to increase capital
spending in 2009 with no impact on water rates.
Of the $4.5 million, $1.35 million will be awarded as a grant, and
the other $3.15 million will be a 0% loan as long as certain
provisions are met. Those provisions include stipulations for buying
American, offering competitive wages (Davis-Bacon Wage
Requirements), and timeline requirements.
One of the provisions requires all projects to be started by August
1. “That shouldn’t be a problem,” stated Director of Asset
Management and Planning Chris Crovo. “Many of these projects have
been designed but failed to receive favorable bids in the past. A
couple projects will start as early as next month.”
Fourteen water projects, mainly water main renewals, will be
completed with the stimulus funds. According to the American Society
of Civil Engineering standards, these projects will create or save
150 jobs.
The Portland Water District originally submitted 21 projects with an
estimated cost of $7.8 million for consideration for the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds. ARRA is a
governmental effort to jumpstart the economy, create or save
millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing
long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st
century.
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