Funding Assistance

Every community will at some time experience a need to make improvements to its water or sewage system. In order to keep utility rates as low as possible, municipalities seek grant and/or loan monies to offset part of the utility improvement costs.

We provide developing rural water groups with assistance from project inception through and including operation of the completed water system.  These services include conducting public information meetings, applications for planning grants, design engineering grants, construction loan/grant funds through USDA-Rural Development and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO).  Engineering services include preliminary engineering reports, design engineering, construction observation and documentation, and preparation of water main utility easements.

Benton & Associates, Inc. also assists its clients in the preparation and administration of the following:

1. Water/wastewater loans/grants through USDA-Rural Development and through IEPA.

2. Housing rehabilitation, planning and engineering and public facilities grants through Illinois DCEO.

3. Parks/swimming pool Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) through Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

4. Boat Access Area Development (BAAD) grants through IDNR for boat ramps, docks, etc.

5. Library grants for remodeling and ADA accessibility through the Illinois Secretary of State Office.

USDA-Rural Development and State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Rural water continues to be in the forefront of the news as more and more studies report dwindling groundwater supplies and contaminated private water systems. USDA-Rural Development has several loan/grant programs available for funding rural water systems including the USDA-RD Community Program Loans and Water 2000. The State of Illinois through its Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (formerly DCCA) has grant funds available for rural water customers.  Each Agency has certain program guideline requirements which must be met in order to qualify for loan and/or grant funds.

During 1997 Benton & Associates, Inc. assisted 10 of our clients in obtaining funds for a variety of water projects.  A total of $2,952,700 of grant funds were secured for various design and construction projects totaling $4,184,110.

2004

Scott County Rural Water Cooperative received $1,183,000 to fund the construction of a new potable rural water distribution system. A USDA-RD grant in the amount of $790,000 and a loan of $393,000 will bring clean and plentiful water to 98 residential and four business customers. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has contributed a $92,000 design engineering grant and a $350,000 Public Facilities Construction grant. The project will include the construction of a hydropneumatic storage tank, master meter and water booster pump station all housed within a frame building. Approximately 31 miles of water main with accompanying meters, valves, hydrants and appurtenances will provide rural customers with potable water.

The City of White Hall and the Village of Manchester were awarded Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants (ECWAG) through USDA-RD (w/the assistance of U.S. Congressmen Ray LaHood and Lane Evans).

If your community or rural area has any questions about developing or expanding a rural water supply, please contact Steve Gilbreth (Associate) for information on grant/loan assistance at 217/245-4146. 
Email: sgilbreth@bentonassociates.com 

IEPA Low Interest Loan

The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act Reauthorization of 1996 provides federal grants to states for establishment of a drinking water loan program. Funding from 1997 through 2003 is authorized as $1 billion annually, which translates to approximately $30 million - $40 million annually for Illinois. Illinois Legislation in 1997 created the Public Water Supply Loan Program that will be administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).  All drinking water loans will carry a loan rate as established at half the bond market interest rate.   Currently, for fiscal year 2000, the loan rate is 2.535% with a 20-year maximum payback period.

The City of Rushville, Illinois which serves citizens residing within the City limits and adjacent rural areas of Schuyler County, accepted approximately $1,000,000 in long-term financing from the IEPA in January, 1998 to fund much needed water system improvements. The City was first in line to receive a Public Water Supply Loan in the region which includes, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.  "Borrowing through the IEPA Public Water Supply Loan Program required some additional paperwork compared to the conventional method of going to the bond market, but the borrowing costs were less by about $400,000 over the 20-year period of the loan," said Dennis Yates, Mayor of Rushville.  The City completed the construction of the new Hilltop Water Treatment Plant and it was placed into operation at the end of 1998.

As previously stated, the purpose of the IEPA Public Water Supply Loan Program is to provide low cost capital to local governments for infrastructure and other public water supply projects.