HARRISBURG, Pa., March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development announced today that the Commonwealth Financing Authority will begin accepting applications for the PA Small Water and Sewer Program to support smaller projects to improve public water supply and sanitary sewer systems.   

"Having up-to-date water and sewer systems and facilities is critical to both economic growth and public safety," Secretary Alan Walker said. "Opening up this program will assist communities to help offset the cost of updating water and sewer systems."

The Commonwealth Financing Authority will begin accepting applications for the PA Small Water and Sewer program immediately with the applications being accepted through May 16, 2014. Initially there will be $3 million available for projects.

Eligible projects are those which have a total project cost of not less than $50,000 and not more than $150,000 and involve the construction, improvement, expansion, repair, or rehabilitation of a water supply or sanitary sewer system which is owned or maintained by an eligible applicant. Eligible applicants are a municipality or a municipal authority.

An eligible project may also include consolidation or regionalization of two or more water supply systems or sanitary sewer systems which are managed or operated as an integrated system regardless of whether the system is physically connected.

The programs are administered jointly by the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Environmental Protection, under the direction of the CFA.

For more information about the CFA, visit www.newPA.com/CFA or call 1-866-466-3972. 

Media contact: Steve Kratz, DCED; 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development