Friday November
22,
2002
TX:
City of Laredo and Webb County,
Texas, Break Ground on $22 Million Water and Wastewater Project to Serve
Colonias
Source: North American Development Bank
"This project symbolizes exactly the kind of work the Bank seeks to do", said Jorge C. Garcés, Deputy Managing Director of the NADB. "This demonstrates what can be accomplished when we work in close coordination with local and state governments."
The City of Laredo Waterworks System and Sewer System currently provides water and wastewater services to all residents within the city limits. This project will extend services to residents in 15 colonias along the SH 359 and Mines Road areas. The project will provide first-time water and sewer service to 3,725 residents in about 900 households.
"We welcome the initiation of this project, so long in coming, which is vital to the well-being of the citizens of Laredo and Webb County," said Mercurio Martinez, Webb County Judge. "I want to thank the City of Laredo and all Webb County officials, including the directors of planning, economic development and engineering for their cooperation in the development and implementation of this important quality of life project," he added.
The Laredo project, certified by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission in September of 2000, will have a total cost of about $22 million. The NADB is contributing a $6.2 million grant toward construction of the collection and treatment system, as well as for residential wastewater hook-ups. The NADB funds are made available through its EPA-funded Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF). The project is also receiving loans and grants from the Texas Water Development Board, as well as financial participation from Webb County.
"This is truly a remarkable and important accomplishment after many years of advocacy and hard work," said Laredo Mayor Betty Flores. "Basic services for all of our citizens is a goal that can be accomplished only through partnerships."
To date the NADB has provided over $460 million in loans and grants for 52 projects along the U.S.-Mexico border. These projects represent a total infrastructure investment of over $1.35 billion. NADB-funded projects are bringing new or improved water, wastewater and solid waste services to more than 6 million residents of the U.S.-Mexico border region.
The NADB Board of Directors will hold its annual public meeting on Thursday, December 5 in San Antonio at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Downtown Campus. For more information, visit <http://www.nadb.org>www.nadb.org.
The North American Development Bank, created under the auspices of NAFTA, is a financial institution established and capitalized in equal parts by the United States and Mexico for the purpose of financing environmental infrastructure projects along their common border. As a pioneer institution in its field, the Bank is working to develop integrated, sustainable and fiscally responsible projects with broad community support in a framework of close cooperation and coordination between Mexico and the United States.