GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY JUNE 2015 VOLUME XIX TABLE OF CONTENTS Georgia Environmental Conference 1 Infrastructure Projects Approved 2 by GEFA The Georgia Land Conservation 3 Program Annual Report GEFA Around Georgia 3 REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE GEORGIA ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE The 10th annual Georgia Environmental Conference is the state's largest environmental conference. The three-day event hosts environmental professionals and industry leaders from throughout the Southeast. This year's conference will be held at the LEED-certified Jekyll Island Convention Center, August 26 through 28, 2015, on Jekyll Island, Ga. The purpose of the Georgia Environmental Conference is to share knowledge and ideas on environmental concerns affecting Georgia and the Southeast region. The curriculum, designed and developed by a 50 member steering committee, offers 56 unique courses, allowing attendees to design their own personalized curriculum by selecting 10 educational breakout sessions. Attendees are eligible to receive approved Continuing Education credits. Registration is now open at www.georgiaenet.com. WWW.GEFA.ORG GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY JUNE 2015 VOLUME XIX GEFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS Fifteen Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $49,961,418 for water, water supply, sewer, solid waste and wastewater infrastructure improvements by the GEFA board of directors in May. GEFA's water, sewer and wastewater infrastructure programs assist local governments with improving their environmental infrastructure. Financing water, water supply, sewer and solid waste projects, as well as energy and water conservation projects, encourage economic growth and environmental stewardship. The city of Griffin was awarded a $12,700,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan (CWSRF), and a $6,275,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan. The CWSRF loan will finance construction of a new Potato Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, increasing capacity from 2 million gallons per day to 3 million gallons at the existing plant site. The project includes constructing a new headworks facility, an advanced biological treatment system, influent and effluent meters, secondary clarifiers, an ultraviolet disinfection system, and installing aeration, filtration and aerobic digestion systems. Griffin will pay 1.71 percent interest on the 30-year loan, and qualifies for a reduced interest rate as a Georgia Department of Community Affairs WaterFirst Community. The DWSRF loan will finance replacing the city's existing raw water intake and pump station on the Flint River. Griffin will pay 1.03 percent interest on the 20-year loan, which includes principal forgiveness of up to $500,000, if all loan funds are drawn. The city of Richmond Hill was awarded a $10,500,000 CWSRF loan. The loan will finance the final phase of construction of the city's new Sterling Creek Water Reclamation Facility. The new facility will eliminate a wastewater discharge into the Ogeechee River delta and provide 4 million gallons per day of reuse quality effluent available for local irrigation use. Availability of reuse quality effluent will eliminate the need for 4 million gallons per day of withdrawals from the Floridan Aquifer. Richmond Hill will pay 1.03 percent interest on the 20year loan. This project qualifies for a reduced interest rate as an eligible water and energy conservation project under GEFA's conservation initiative. Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority was awarded a $2,500,000 DWSRF loan. The loan will finance constructing a new 1.5 million gallon per day potable water treatment plant and appurtenances, including finished water storage, a high-service pump station, and connections to the existing water distribution system. Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority will pay 0.5 percent interest on the five-year loan, which includes principal forgiveness of up to $500,000, if all loan funds are drawn. GEFA provides loans through state and federal programs to fund water, solid waste and wastewater infrastructure, and water pollution control and conservation projects. GEFA also provides loan financing at a reduced interest rate to local governments and authorities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at water and wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and municipal solid waste facilities, in addition to infrastructure improvements. For more information, visit www.gefa.org. 2 WWW.GEFA.ORG GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY JUNE 2015 VOLUME XIX THE GEORGIA LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM PUBLISHES ITS ANNUAL REPORT The Georgia Land Conservation Program (GLCP) strives to protect and conserve Georgia's natural resources, as well as its rich and varied cultural legacy through public/private partnerships. It provides flexible financing to land owners, local governments, state agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) for permanent land conservation projects. The GLCP also works to ensure these projects align with the state's culture of conservation and resource stewardship. Eligible land conservation initiatives should advance at least one of 10 conservation purposes. The GLCP's accomplishments during the last fiscal year are outlined in the 2014 Annual Report. Click here to learn more. GEFA AROUND GEORGIA GEFA will be at several conferences throughout the state throughout 2015. Stop by and visit if you'll be at one of the events listed below. Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Annual Conference - The Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, Savannah, Ga., June 26 - 30, 2015 Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) Annual Conference - The Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, Savannah, Ga., July 12 - 15, 2015 Georgia Environmental Conference - The Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island, Ga., August 26 - 28, 2015 Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) Annual Conference - The Hyatt Regency Savannah, Savannah, Ga., September 16 -18, 2015 Georgia Government Finance Officers Association (GGFOA) Annual Conference - The Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island, Ga., October 4 - 7, 2015 Georgia Rural Water Association (GRWA) Fall Conference Location TBD, October 2015 Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) Fall Conference - Location TBD, November 2015 Georgia Association of Regional Commissions (GARC) Annual Conference - St. Simons Island, Ga., November 4 6, 2015 233 Peachtree Street NE Harris Tower, Suite 900 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 404-584-1000 (Main) 404-584-1069 (Fax) www.gefa.org If you wish to add or remove yourself from this newsletter distribution, please email publicaffairs@gefa.ga.gov 3 WWW.GEFA.ORG