South Dakota’s $600 million for water projects going fast

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The seemingly large chunk of federal reduction cash that South Dakota legislators earmarked for public water tasks and the governor signed into legislation simply seven weeks in the past is rapidly operating out.

Of $600 million that lawmakers budgeted in March for water growth from American Rescue Plan Act funds, there was roughly $123 million left Tuesday afternoon by the point the state Board of Water and Pure Assets completed dealing with the newest spherical of purposes.

The board accredited practically $98 million of grants and low-interest loans for tasks in communities and rural suppliers, together with $73 million involving ARPA funds.

Andy Bruels from the state Division of Agriculture and Pure Assets mentioned his workplace has already obtained purposes to make use of each final ARPA greenback that’s left — after which some. He additionally expects some tasks to come back again asking for added cash due to inflation.

Stated the board’s chair, Jerry Soholt of Sioux Falls: “I believe the query is, are we getting ourselves right into a field?”

Sioux Falls obtained the most important quantity of ARPA funds — $41.9 million — that was distributed Tuesday. The cash will complement the $123 million mortgage that Sioux Falls obtained from the state board in April.

Tea obtained roughly $5 million of ARPA grants unfold throughout three tasks Tuesday, together with substitute of a wastewater stabilization system that metropolis administrator Dan Zulkosky mentioned ought to have been switched out 20 years in the past.

“This venture is one thing we’ve been engaged on the final three or 4 years and hopefully it’ll occur this 12 months,” Zulkowsky mentioned.

Different communities that obtained funding packages Tuesday included:

Canistota (2), Castlewood, Crooks, Custer, Groton

Joint Nicely Subject, Inc., Kingbrook Rural Water System

Lake Norden, Lennox (2), Salem, Watertown, Field Elder

Chancellor (2), Hudson (2),Lake Poinsett Sanitary District

North Sioux Metropolis (2), Northville, South Shore, White (2)