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County Executive's Office

Dane County Applies for Clean Water Stimulus Funds

July 13, 2009
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606
County Executive

Funding Sought to Assist Cities, Villages, Towns with Projects to Reduce Runoff, Improve Water Quality

 Dane County is working to secure federal stimulus funding for towns, villages, and cities across the county that are planning a series of water quality improvement projects.  The county submitted an application this week for 13 projects communities are proposing to reduce stormwater run-off and help keep pollutants out of local waterways.

The county has applied for funding for projects in the Cities of Madison, Sun Prairie and Fitchburg; the Villages of DeForest, Mount Horeb, Maple Bluff, and Shorewood Hills; and the Towns of Middleton and Dunn.  (A complete list of projects is attached).

“Keeping our lakes and streams blue means a lot of green for our local economy,” County Executive Kathleen Falk said.  “We’re working hard to get dollars to help our communities with this work because it’s a real opportunity to protect a big part of the quality of life we enjoy.  These projects are both good for our economy and our environment.”

On behalf of its local communities, Dane County is vying for a share of $106-million made available to Wisconsin under available Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will determine how the dollars are distributed through what’s called the Wisconsin Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund.

Prior to stimulus funding being available for this kind of work, Dane County each year assists local communities with these kinds of projects through a competitive grant process.  The 2009 budget approved by Falk and the county board included $250,000 in county dollars for towns, villages, and cities to share for water quality improvement work.

In the past, this county funding has helped construct systems to stop trash and runoff from getting into area lakes and improve stormwater runoff management techniques.

 

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