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ALACHUA COUNTY – The Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) recently awarded a
$356,228 low interest loan to the City of Newberry for
wastewater management. The loan, part of DEP’s State
Revolving Fund Program, is for upgrades and expansion of
the City’s wastewater treatment plant.
“Florida is committed to protecting all of our lakes,
rivers, streams, aquifers and coastal waters by using
highly developed water quality improvement
technologies,” said DEP Secretary Colleen M. Castille.
“Through legislative appropriations and DEP’s State
Revolving Fund, the Department is helping build and
upgrade local government systems to ensure the highest
standards are met.”
DEP established the State Revolving Fund to provide
low interest financing to plan, design and build
wastewater and stormwater systems. Funds can be used for
wastewater, stormwater, reuse, estuary protection and
other water quality improvement projects. Funded by
federal capitalization grants, state matching funds,
loan repayments and interest earnings, State Revolving
Fund loans are offered at interest rates as low as 32
percent below current market rates. Repayments from
earlier loans are used to make new loans, allowing the
program to operate in perpetuity.
Under the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush and the
Florida Legislature, Florida has invested almost $2.5
billion to improve wastewater treatment, clean up
stormwater pollution and upgrade drinking water
facilities, funding more than 1,200 projects statewide
since 1999. Over the last six years, the State Revolving
Fund Program awarded nearly $1.6 billion to plan, design
and build water facilities across the state.
For more information on the State Revolving Fund and
other financial assistance, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wff/index.htm. | 
