Wooten President Joins Gov. Cooper to Highlight Water System Upgrades

Governor Roy Cooper and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser visited the Town of Jonesville Water Treatment Plant to highlight two large drinking water infrastructure projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Town will receive $8.1 million for treatment plant improvements and $6.9 million for water distribution upgrades.

Wooten’s Hickory office and Funding Strategies Team, which began working with Jonesville in 2018, helped their staff successfully apply for the ARPA money. Jonesville’s system qualifies as distressed under DEQ’s Viable Utility Reserve (VUR) program, which prioritizes distressed systems for funding.

Along with the Jonesville Town Manager, Mayor, and Council Members, Wooten President Gary Hartong, PE was on site for the Governor’s visit.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with rural communities who often face unique challenges to maintain and upgrade their utilities,” Hartong said. “Jonesville has a rich history. And, by enhancing their water systems, they are improving quality of life for generations to come.”

Typically, North Carolina invests about $200 million annually in water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. This year, ARPA increased that amount to $2.3 billion statewide. So far, 86 counties across the state are receiving ARPA funds.

After visiting the Jonesville Water Treatment Plant, the Governor and Secretary toured the Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority’s wastewater treatment plant which serves the towns of Jonesville, Elkin, and Ronda. Afterwards they shared some remarks.

“Access to clean drinking water is critical for healthy and thriving communities,” Governor Cooper said. “This funding will give families and business owners in Jonesville, Elkin and Ronda more confidence in their infrastructure so they can continue to grow.”

With spring and fall 2022 rounds of ARPA applications in the books, more federal funds through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) are on the way. Our staff is gearing up to assist communities in applying for those resources and others in 2023.