SRF News

Picture of Vena Jones, manager of the State Revolving Fund Loan Program & State Water Infrastructure Grant Program

"The Atlas is a free online community for local government leaders to browse case studies, follow topics, and crowdsource ideas and advice." 

Recently, The Atlas developed a report called "The 2023 Infrastructure Trailblazers" in which our very own Vena Jones, manager of the State Revolving Fund Loan Program & State Water Infrastructure Grant Program, was recognized as one of 7 state, local, and tribal government leaders across the country for her work on infrastructure project funding in Tennessee. 

October 16, 2023

Governor Lee, TDEC Announce $20 Million Loan for City of Chattanooga Water Improvements

October 4, 2023

Governor Lee, TDEC Announce $1.7 Million Loan for Brownsville Energy Authority Water Improvements

Governor Lee, TDEC Announce $9 Million Loan for City of Lakeland Water Improvements

Governor Lee, TDEC Announce $5.8 Million in Loans for City of Cleveland Water Improvements

September 28, 2023

On September 28, 2023, Lori Johnson testified on behalf of CIFA before the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Transportation & Infrastructure in the U.S. House of Representatives, which has jurisdiction over the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF). Lori is Assistant Chief of the Financial Assistance Division for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and serves as Secretary for CIFA’s Board of Directors.

Lori shared the perspectives of the Clean Water SRFs, including the benefits of SRF subsidized loans, the impact of federal requirements on the cost of water infrastructure, and suggestions for changes to the Clean Water Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve operations and outcomes.

This is the third consecutive year that CIFA has been asked to testify before Congress.

Testimony of Lori Johnson, Assistant Chief, Financial Assistance Division Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Watch the hearing, “Clean Water Infrastructure Financing: State and Local Perspectives and Recent Developments.”

September 1, 2023: 

Lee, TDEC Announce $75,000 for Maynardville Water Infrastructure Improvements

Lee, TDEC Announce $2.3 Million for Rocky Top Water Infrastructure Improvements

August 17, 2023:  
The Division of Water Resources now offers grants to provide local communities and utilities with short-term, affordable financial assistance for sustainable infrastructure planning needs. State Water Infrastructure Grants (SWIG) launched as Tennessee’s ARP Grants and have become a companion to SRF Loans. SWIG will announce two new offerings in FY24, Asset Management Planning Grants and Lead Service Line Inventory Grants. More info coming soon!

City of Franklin WWTP Project

August 10, 2023:  City of Franklin
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation State Revolving Fund recently visited the Franklin wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and the Nashville 8th Avenue Reservoir to review construction progress following the disbursement of State Revolving Fund monies.

The City of Franklin has experienced an increased population that required expanding and upgrading its WWTP. The plant will be able to treat up to 16 million gallons per day (mgd) of wastewater, up from 12 mgd. It will include technology capable of producing Class “A” biosolids for ease of disposal. Construction began in November 2018 and is expected to complete in the next two months. SRF has provided four loans totaling $119,500,000. The total construction contract amount is $132,977,021.

Metro Nashville Water Services 8th Avenue Reservoir

August 10, 2023:  Metro Nashville
The 8th Avenue Reservoir is Metro Water Services’ largest reservoir, with a capacity of 51 million gallons, and accounts for 60% of the total storage volume for the city. The structure was constructed in 1889 and has undergone multiple repairs and improvements. While the repairs have allowed the tank to remain operational, the liner system is nearing the end of its useful life. Measuring devices have detected some movement in the walls of the tanks, as the reservoir tanks are situated on three fault lines and not supported by solid rock. For the reservoir to remain in service, the city will construct two new concrete tanks inside the existing framework, which will be supported on micropiles. These tanks will be constructed in two phases. In the first phase, a new tank will be constructed in the western portion of the reservoir while the eastern basin remains operational. Once the new tank is in service, the middle divider wall will be removed, and the second tank will be constructed and connected to the first tank with piping. The new tanks will be supported by micropiles extending into the bedrock. As of today, phase one is complete, and the western tank is about to be put into service. SRF has provided two loans totaling $32,493,000, which will provide partial funding for Phase One of the Reservoir Rehabilitation project, waterline replacement along 12th Avenue South, and the 38th Avenue water storage tank replacement. The construction contract amount for Phase One is $22,068,291.45.

City of Ardmore Receiving ARP Funding

July 2023 - TDEC recently attended a check presentation with the City of Ardmore to present ARP water infrastructure funds. These funds will address critical needs and develop an Asset Management Plan to determine the life of aging water and wastewater infrastructure, ensure all assets are efficient and productive, and provide vital information to make sound investments for the future. In addition to the check presentation, TDEC’s Division of Water Resources staff met with Ardmore and Alabama officials, TAUD, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, and EPA to discuss SRF and ARP projects.

February 16, 2023 - Brian Ham with the Division of Water Resources was featured on WKRN to discuss our joint project with the U.S. Geological Survey on dye tracing to support source water protection.


This Page Last Updated: October 20, 2023 at 9:34 AM