Funds Would Create Jobs, Allow for the Completion of the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project
Washington DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) called on the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to aid Lycoming County in its bid for funds to support the completion of the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. The new system would improve Lycoming County’s existing sanitary sewer system which is frequently inundated with flood waters, most recently from Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. Senator Casey was joined in this request by Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10).
“The completion of the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project will sustain and create jobs while bringing important infrastructure improvements to Lycoming County,” said Senator Casey. “I urge the Economic Development Administration to give this application full and fair consideration.”
The system currently supports 14 companies which employ over 3,000 people. The County’s project will also enable the construction and opening of a new gas-powered electric generation plant, which will create more jobs in the region. This project represents an opportunity for the EDA to make sure their dollars are spent on an important project that will create and protect jobs.
The full text of the letter can be found below:
Matt S. Erskine
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Economic Development Administration
Dear Assistant Secretary Erskine:
It is our understanding that County of Lycoming has submitted an application for funding under the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Disaster Relief program. The purpose of this letter is to urge you to give full and fair consideration to this proposal.
Lycoming County is requesting $2 million in EDA funds to support the completion of the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project, one of the five major parts of a $34.5 million sanitary sewer infrastructure project being under taken by the new West Branch Regional Authority. It is our understanding that the existing sanitary sewer collection system and the associated old Montgomery waste water treatment plant (WWTP) are continually inundated with flood waters from nearby Black Hole Creek and the West Branch Susquehanna River. The system was most recently flooded during Tropical Storm Lee in September 2011.
The system currently supports 14 companies which employ over 3,000 people. The County’s project will also enable the construction and opening of a new gas-powered electric generation plant by Moxie Patriot LLC, which will create more jobs in the region. The West Branch Regional Authority has already secured $32.5 million in Federal and State funding for this $34.5 million wastewater treatment project. Yet, additional assistance is required to construct the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. In short, this project represents an excellent opportunity for the EDA to make sure their dollars are spent on an important project that will create and protect jobs.
Please include this letter in the official record of the application. Consistent with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, we also respectfully request that you keep us informed of the status of this grant application. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
Patrick J. Toomey
United States Senator
Tom Marino
United States Congressman
###
