Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers announced a State Revolving Fund loan of $800,000 for the Town of Woodbury to improve water infrastructure.

The loan is one of two approved by the Tennessee Local Development Authority, with funds for Woodbury and Cleveland totaling $10.8 million.

“These loans from the State Revolving Fund Loan Program address important infrastructure needs and demonstrate our commitment to assisting communities throughout our state,” Lee said. “We are pleased to help to improve water infrastructure in the Town of Woodbury.”

“These loans should have a big impact,” Salyers said. “Communities across Tennessee benefit from this program, and we are glad to play a role in the program’s success.”

The Town of Woodbury’s loan comes from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program. It will address improvements to the water distribution system. The loan has a 20-year term at 0.34 percent interest. Woodbury received $160,000 in principal forgiveness with the remainder of the loan amount to be paid back as principal.

Through the State Revolving Fund Loan Program, communities, utility districts, and water and wastewater authorities can obtain loans with lower interest rates than through private financing. These low-interest-rate loans can vary from zero percent to below market rate, based on each community’s economic health.

This fiscal year, TDEC has awarded $950,000 in drinking water loans and $16.2 million in clean water loans to meet the state’s infrastructure needs. During fiscal year 2020, TDEC awarded $37,374,000 in drinking water loans and $150,529,200 in clean water loans for a total of $187,903,200.

Tennessee’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $2 billion in low-interest loans since its inception in 1987. The state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $300 million in low-interest loans since its inception in 1996.