SHAHEEN ANNOUNCES OVER $4.2 MILLION IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDS COMING TO FRANCONIA FOR WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen announced today that the city of Franconia will receive $4,250,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The funding will be used to install water storage tanks and to upgrade water distribution mains, which will create jobs and improve vital infrastructure.

"This funding will immediately stimulate our local economy by creating jobs and will lay foundations for long-term economic strength by upgrading and modernizing important infrastructure," said Shaheen. "We've taken important steps toward economic recovery already, and we'll continue working over the coming months and years to ensure our economy thrives. But I'm glad this funding is reaching our communities quickly and is supporting important projects that will boost the economy."

The funding will be provided through the USDA's Water and Environmental Program, which provides loans and grants to ensure that the necessary investments are made in water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment in rural areas. For more information about the USDA's rural development efforts, please visit www.rurdev.usda.gov.