Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Friday, the City of Anita has received a Water Quality Improvement Loan amounting to $1.6-million dollars for drinking water source and treatment improvements. Anita, along with 22 other Iowa communities will be able to move water quality projects forward with the support of a combined total of more than $40.4 million in low-cost water quality loans.

The City of Mt. Ayr, in Ringgold County, received $900,000 for sewer treatment improvements. And, the City of Walnut, in Pottawattamie County, received $170,000 for Drinking Water – Planning & Design.

The financing is made available through Construction and Planning & Design Loans through the State Revolving Fund. Construction Loans are a low-cost construction financing option available for Iowa cities and municipalities for water quality initiatives. Planning & Design Loans are zero percent loans that assist with the first-phase of project expenses.

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources jointly administer the State Revolving Fund in Iowa. IFA Executive Director Dave Jamison says “The Iowa Finance Authority is committed to enhancing the quality of life for Iowans and one way we do this is by providing communities with access to affordably maintain and update water systems. The State Revolving Fund provided low-cost financing for water quality infrastructure improvements benefiting one million Iowans in last fiscal year alone.”

Iowa DNR Director Chuck Gipp says “The State Revolving Fund plays a vital role in advancing water quality improvements throughout Iowa. The recent awardees join more than 500 other Iowa cities in recognizing the State Revolving Fund as their best choice for financing of their water quality initiatives.”

The State Revolving Fund has awarded Iowa communities and municipalities with more than $2.5 billion in Construction Loans and nearly $150 million through Planning & Design Loans since the program’s inception. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides annual capitalization grants to states. Leveraged bonds and loan repayments expand the reach of the federal investment. More than $3 in assistance has been leveraged for Iowa water quality projects for every $1 of federal funds.