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City of Jackson awarded $35.6M in water infrastructure grant

Dollar-for-dollar match gives the city more than $71 million.
Ross Adams
Investigative Reporter
Angela Williams
Digital Media Manager
City of Jackson awarded $35.6M in water infrastructure grant

Dollar-for-dollar match gives the city more than $71 million.

MORE ON HOW MUCH THE CITY IS GETTING... HORHN SOUND-1 21-27 <IN TERMS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE CAPITAL CITY THIS IS A TREMENDOUS COUP FOR JACKSON.> JACKSON'S AILING WATER SYSTEM IS GETTING A BIG BOOST AFTER THE RECENT WATER CRISIS SAW THE OB CURTIS TREATMENT PLANT FAIL WHICH FORCED THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME TO THE RESCUE. HORHN SOUND-1 52-1:02 STATE SENATOR JOHN HORHN(D)HINDS, MADISON COUNTY <THE CITY IS GOING TO GET $35.6 MILLION. AND THAT MEANS THE CITY HAS ALREADY PUT UP $35.6 MILLION IN ORDER TO MATCH THE ARPA FUNDS.> STATE SENATOR JOHN HORHN SAYS THAT GIVES THE CITY MORE THAN $71 MILLION FOR A WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT PLUS OTHER RENOVATIONS AT OB CURTIS AND JH FEWELL TREATMENT PLANTS AND OTHER MUCH-NEEDED REPAIRS SENATOR HORHN SAYS UNLIKE OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED THE MONEY JACKSON IS REQUITED TO TAKE AN EXTRA STEP TO GET THE FUNDS. HORHN SOUND 57-1:04 <AND THAT IS TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION ON THE DRAWING DOWN OF ANY MONIES.> THE GRANT DOLLARS CAME FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND WERE JUST AWARDED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. THE HEAD OF THE MDEQ IS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR TATE REEVES WHO RECENTLY ENGAGED IN A WAR OF WORD WITH MAYOR CHOKWE ANTAR LUMUMBA OVER PAST MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE CONTROL OF THE WATER SYSTEM. HORHN SOUND 11-20 <IF WE C
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City of Jackson awarded $35.6M in water infrastructure grant

Dollar-for-dollar match gives the city more than $71 million.
Ross Adams
Investigative Reporter
Angela Williams
Digital Media Manager
The city of Jackson has been approved for $35.6 million for seven projects related to improving the city's drinking water and wastewater systems.The money was awarded during the first round of funding from the Mississippi Municipality & County Water Infrastructure Grant Program under the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. It is a dollar-for-dollar match that gives the city a total of more than $71.2 million."The city is going to get $35.6 million, and that means the city has already put up $35.6 million in order to match the (American Rescue Plan Act) funds," State Sen. John Horhn said.Unlike other cities and counties that applied for the and received the grant money, Jackson is required to take an extra step to get the funds."And that is to get approval from the Department of Finance and Administration on the drawing down of any monies," Horhn said. The Jackson projects were for work at the J.H. Fewell and O.B. Curtis water plants. The wastewater projects were for the Jackson West Bank interceptor sewer line and the Mill Street sewer basin."We are appreciative of the recently-announced ARPA projects approved through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s Municipality and County Water Infrastructure Program," Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said in a statement. "The city of Jackson was awarded all requested projects and this will go towards our ongoing efforts to provide reliable, safe and quality drinking water for our residents. We are grateful for the assistance and will continue to explore all potential funding avenues to achieve this end." Jackson's most recent water crisis started Aug. 29 when flooding conditions exacerbated the problems at the O.B. Curtis Water Plant. The state took over control of that plant, conducted repairs and extended an emergency order that will allow the plant to return to the city's control by Nov. 22.
JACKSON, Miss. —

The city of Jackson has been approved for $35.6 million for seven projects related to improving the city's drinking water and wastewater systems.

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The money was awarded during the first round of funding from the Mississippi Municipality & County Water Infrastructure Grant Program under the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. It is a dollar-for-dollar match that gives the city a total of more than $71.2 million.

"The city is going to get $35.6 million, and that means the city has already put up $35.6 million in order to match the (American Rescue Plan Act) funds," State Sen. John Horhn said.

Unlike other cities and counties that applied for the and received the grant money, Jackson is required to take an extra step to get the funds.

"And that is to get approval from the Department of Finance and Administration on the drawing down of any monies," Horhn said.

The Jackson projects were for work at the J.H. Fewell and O.B. Curtis water plants. The wastewater projects were for the Jackson West Bank interceptor sewer line and the Mill Street sewer basin.

"We are appreciative of the recently-announced ARPA projects approved through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s Municipality and County Water Infrastructure Program," Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said in a statement. "The city of Jackson was awarded all requested projects and this will go towards our ongoing efforts to provide reliable, safe and quality drinking water for our residents. We are grateful for the assistance and will continue to explore all potential funding avenues to achieve this end."

Jackson's most recent water crisis started Aug. 29 when flooding conditions exacerbated the problems at the O.B. Curtis Water Plant. The state took over control of that plant, conducted repairs and extended an emergency order that will allow the plant to return to the city's control by Nov. 22.