North Carolina state budget funding adds more resources for community infrastructure improvements including asset inventory.
We wrote earlier this month about the local impact of Congress' passage of the $1.25 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). On the heels of that, North Carolina state budget funding is also finalized, adding even more resources for community infrastructure improvements.
These dollars are reflective of North Carolina’s $5.2 billion share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) that passed in March 2021. State leaders were tasked with prioritizing a portion of those funds. Here are nine water-related appropriations:
• $1 Billion - Drinking Water/Wastewater Grants
• $456 Million - Viable Utility Reserve (Designated as Distressed)
• $103 Million - Stormwater Infrastructure Investment
• $80 Million - Asset Inventory & Technical Assistance Grants
• $40 Million - State Parks Water & Sewer Projects
• $20 Million - Highly Treated Wastewater Pilot Program
• $17 Million - Low-Income Household Water Assistance
• $14 Million - Implementation of 2021 Water Safety Act
• $13 Million - Soil and Water Conservation Programs
Additional ARP funds are designated for distribution at the local level:
• $2 billion to counties
• $682 million to 527 communities of less than 50,000 people
• $672 million to 24 cities with populations of 50,000 or more
According to the ARP and rules for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF), the distributions above may be used to invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.
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