Richmond to receive $6.2 million in stimulus funds for sewer projects

Richmond will receive $6.2 million in federal stimulus money for three sewer overflow projects.

The State Water Control Board this week announced its list of approved projects submitted by Virginia localities seeking a share of $77 million in grants available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The biggest chunk of stimulus money went to Lynchburg, which received nearly $25 million for five projects to modernize its sewers in an effort to eliminate raw sewage overflows into the James River.

Richmond had requested nearly $9 million for five projects to help finance a new storm-water system to reduce its sewage overflow into the river. Three of the projects received nearly full funding; two sewer-rehab projects were not funded.

The $77 million also includes roughly $16 million for 13 "green infrastructure" projects in Virginia, ranging from water recycling to alternative energy.

New Kent County received a big share of green infrastructure funding, getting $6.75 million for a "Reclaimed Water Line" at Parham Landing.

Hopewell received $600,000 for a project to turn algae into energy.

Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality received 294 requests totaling more than $1.3 billion.

Spokesman Bill Hayden said the projects were selected based upon their anticipated environmental benefits, how soon they could be started and the financial hardship of the locality and its unemployment rate.

The stimulus money is in addition to existing federal, state and local funding already allocated for the projects.

Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or .