Mississippi News
Here’s how much cities, counties could get from state for water and sewer
Cities and counties apply for $435 million from state's water and sewer ARPA fund
The city of Jackson requested the largest amount of money, $36 million, of any city or county from a designated water and sewer fund that came through the American Rescue Plan Act.
State lawmakers established the fund earlier this year to help pay for infrastructure needs by matching what money cities and counties received directly from ARPA.
In their applications, cities and counties list out specific water and sewer projects and include funding amounts from their own direct ARPA appropriations. Then, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, which oversees the program, can provide up to a 1-to-1 funding match, or 2-to-1 for places that received less than $1 million in direct funds.
Jackson applied for a $23 million match to help fix its drinking water system, which would give it $46 million in total. On the wastewater side, the city is requesting a $12 million match to give it $24 million total.
Hinds County did not submit an application, according to a list provided by MDEQ. The county agreed to use $17 million of its ARPA money for Jackson's water system, WLBT reported last month.
Half of the funds sought in the applications, or $216 million, were for wastewater projects, $139 million were for drinking water projects, and $79 million for stormwater projects.
The city of Gulfport is seeking the most money for wastewater improvements, at $26 million. For stormwater projects, Rankin County applied for the largest amount at $21 million.
An MDEQ spokesperson said the agency anticipates that cities and counties will receive funds by the end of the year, and that there will also be a second round of applications for remaining money.
MDEQ provided a breakdown of how much entities are seeking for different projects. Use the tables below for a breakdown by spending area:
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Entertainment District looks to draw people in
SUMMARY: Customers in Starkville can now get a branded cup for their open container of alcohol in the Entertainment District. Restaurants and hotels in this area received branded “Go Cups” as part of an ordinance passed in 2020 that allows patrons to leave licensed premises with alcohol. The cups feature Starkville's logo and a QR code linking to information about the district. These cups aim to draw more people into the Entertainment District and showcase what it has to offer. Businesses in the area already provide drinks to-go, and the branded cups help promote the district to tourists and locals.
The post Entertainment District looks to draw people in appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
8 schools in our area receive ‘Military Star Schools’ recognition
SUMMARY: Eight schools in the area have been recognized by the Mississippi Department of Education as “Military Star Schools” for their support of military families and children of service members. These schools include West Lowndes Elementary and High Schools, New Hope Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, Aberdeen Elementary School, Annunciation Catholic School, and Columbus Christian Academy. Schools with this designation must have a dedicated school liaison for military families and provide professional development for staff to meet the needs of military students and families. The designation lasts for two years and was established by Governor Tate Reeves in February 2022.
The post 8 schools in our area receive ‘Military Star Schools' recognition appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Mississippi lawmakers go back and forth on education funding
SUMMARY: Mississippi lawmakers are debating public education funding before the end of the 2024 Legislative Session. The House is pushing for the INSPIRE Act, which aims to provide more funding to underfunded schools and special needs students. Opponents are urging caution in overhauling the current funding system, calling for input from experts to understand potential consequences. The Senate's plan involves making minor adjustments to the current MAEP formula. The final decision on education funding will impact the future of education in Mississippi and its impact on students.
The post Mississippi lawmakers go back and forth on education funding appeared first on www.wjtv.com
-
Mississippi News6 days ago
Mississippi will soon be bombarded with cicadas
-
SuperTalk FM4 days ago
4 tornadoes touched down in Mississippi during latest round of severe storms
-
SuperTalk FM3 days ago
Chance of parole denied for man who killed 3 Choctaw Indian tribal members
-
SuperTalk FM5 days ago
2 Jones County correctional officers arrested in smuggling bust
-
Local News5 days ago
Almost 3,500 Mississippi Veterans have enrolled in VA health care in past 365 days, 28% increase over last year
-
Kaiser Health News3 days ago
To Stop Fentanyl Deaths in Philadelphia, Knocking on Doors and Handing Out Overdose Kits
-
SuperTalk FM4 days ago
Amazon project in Madison County to be over $10B, create more jobs than projected: report
-
SuperTalk FM2 days ago
2 arrested after missing man’s body found on side of Mississippi highway