The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) today announced more than $253 million in loans and grants awarded to 35 wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects throughout the state during the first half of 2024. Since its inception in 1987, the PFA has financed $6.09 billion for public infrastructure projects statewide.
"Funding from the PFA positively affects our communities and it will help them grow and develop for years to come," said Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Matt Varilek, chair of the PFA. "Keeping our water clean, drinkable and accessible will always be a top priority for the PFA as we work to help communities flourish."
"The PFA provides crucial financing and technical assistance to help communities build public infrastructure that protects public health and the environment," said DEED Economic Development Deputy Commissioner Kevin McKinnon. "Investing in the well-being of Minnesota's infrastructure is a catalyst to economic growth and prosperity."
Funding for the projects primarily comes from PFA's Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which helps communities build or upgrade wastewater treatment plants to comply with discharge standards in the federal Clean Water Act, and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which helps communities build drinking water storage, treatment and distribution systems that comply with standards in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
Some projects also received funding from PFA's Point Source Implementation grant program, Water Infrastructure Fund program and Small Community Wastewater Treatment Program. In some cases, funding was also provided by special state appropriations, the Federal USDA Office of Rural Development and local sources.
Included in the list of projects is $13 million for a design, acquisition, construction and equipping a new sanitary sewer collection and treatment system for the City of Randolph.