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The City of Washington has received a $6.154 million low-interest loan for safer drinking water improvements and another $400,000 grant for stormwater improvements. The North Carolina State Water Infrastructure Authority (SIWA) approved the funding assistance earlier this summer. 

Funding for the $400,000 comes from American Rescue Plan Act and will cover all of eligible stormwater study, design or plan costs. According to the City of Washington, it is beginning a third phase of updates to the stormwater project on Jack’s Creek which will help expand storage capacity, and slow the stream flow to allow sediments to be removed from the water. This will be an organic way to allow clean stormwater flow into the Pamlico River. Disbursement of funds is contingent upon progress of the project and the funding must be spent by December 21, 2026, according to North Carolina’s Department of Water Quality. 

 In July, the City of Washington also received a grant totaling $263,200 under the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program for the completion of construction work for Jack’s Creek Floodplain and Greenway improvements.