McEachin Secures Community Project Funding for Water Upgrades in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District

Press Release

Today, Rep. A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) announced that he secured inclusion of a total of $8,432,000 for three local transportation projects in the 2022 House Appropriations Subcommittee of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies bill.

"It is my honor to fight for our district in Congress, and I am proud to have secured much-needed funding for these three jurisdictions to meet significant water-related needs. Access to safe and healthy drinking water is a necessity. No one should worry that the water coming from their tap is contaminated or dangerous," said Rep. McEachin (VA-04). "To ensure reliable access to clean water, we must modernize our infrastructure. These are long overdue health and safety needs for my constituents that are finally receiving these crucial funds. I will continue to advocate for our district to ensure we receive the necessary resources to make our community stronger."

The funding will make a critical difference in the lives of people in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District. All three of these projects address pressing needs in these localities, ensuring potable drinking water and safe and secure handling of wastewater. Rep. McEachin secured funding for the following projects:

$3,200,000 for Prince George County's Extension of the Central Water System to Route 10 Corridor to provide a reliable surface water source for existing customers by decommissioning an existing aquifer well system.
$3,200,000 for Surry County's Water System Upgrades to replace the current well system and connect it to a public water source, which will increase capacity, lengthen the lifespan of the system, and foster economic development.
$2,432,000 for City of Petersburg's Pharmaceutical Park / Poor Creek Sewer Service Area to upgrade wastewater infrastructure to stimulate economic development and protect public health.
"We thank Congressman McEachin for this opportunity to solve critical infrastructure items within our community," stated Floyd M. Brown, Chairman, Prince George County. "The Route 10 water line extension will alleviate the aquifer impact of well-based water systems and help define our County for decades to come. Prince George County looks forward to a favorable congressional outcome as the grant request continues on its path."

"As a rural community, we must ensure that our infrastructure can meet the needs of our citizens and students," said Melissa Rollins, County Administrator for Surry County. "Small localities are faced with significant costs to replace aging infrastructure. We are glad to know that congressional resources could possibly support this project in Surry County. This project will ultimately improve the economic vitality of our community."

"Surry County is fortunate to have been able to submit our school complex water system upgrade project to Congress for consideration," said David A. Harrison, Deputy County Administrator for Surry County. "We are elated that the project is being considered and realize that it will have a very positive impact on our community overall. Small rural localities are often overlooked for large funding opportunities and we are very grateful to Congressman McEachin, his team, and the Appropriations Committee for their support of our application."

"The improvements to the Poor Creek Pump Station are vital for the city's ability to upgrade our sewer service area infrastructure," said Samuel Parham, Mayor of Petersburg. "The upgrade will allow the city to bring even more economic development projects to the city as we continue to raise the standard of living of our citizens."

Rep. McEachin submitted several Community Project Funding requests to the Appropriations Committee, including crucial priorities for the Richmond-area, Central Virginia, and the Hampton Roads region. Information on the status of additional requests will be announced in the coming days.

The inclusion of this funding in the Appropriations Committee draft bill is the first step in the funding process. Rep. McEachin will continue to fight for this funding as the bill moves to the full Appropriations Committee, consideration on the House Floor, and negotiations with the Senate.

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