The village of Junction City is receiving a $1.5-million Illinois Community Development Block Grant to help completely rebuild its water system.
The grant was one of 54 awarded to non-metropolitan communities across the state on Friday by Governor JB Pritzker. They total $57 million.
Junction City board member Brandon McClelland says along with a low-interest Farmers Home Administration loan, the long-needed project is now funded.
McClelland says, “It’s actually going to let us do an infrastructure upgrade: replace all the water mains, water tower, waterlines, hydrants, do hydrant testing, better water quality, better flow, and less maintenance. We put in smart meters as well with this water main upgrade that we’re doing.”
The board has been told the project will take four years to complete.
Other communities in South Central Illinois receiving money for water and sewer system improvements include additional $1.5-million grants to Vandalia, Flora, and Altamont, $1.3-million to Fayette County, and $1,275,000 to the City of Effingham.
Thirteen communities received grants for housing rehabilitation, but none are in South Central Illinois.
The Community Development Block Grant program is funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. All funding will benefit communities with 51 percent or more low to moderate income residences.
