GF County pledges support to help fund wastewater improvements

Grand Forks County has agreed to set aside $3 million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to help fund wastewater improvements in Grand Forks.  The city is planning to tap $6.8 million dollars in ARPA money to support upgrades as well.

Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski told county commissioners today (Monday) that the wastewater plant is showing some age – and the city needs more capacity for future economic development opportunities.  Bochenski says the city should know about one of those deals before the end of the year.

Commissioner Tom Falck says can support the $3 million dollar investment in order to grow the economy.  Falck says if the business deal falls through the county could use find another use for the money.  He says without additional development the economy risks becoming stagnant.

The county currently has nearly $41 million dollars in funding requests – and around $13.5 million dollars in available ARPA dollars to spend.