Washington, D.C. — Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva and Yuma County Supervisor Lenore Loroña Stuart announce today that Avenue B & C Colonia in Yuma will receive $14,628,424 for sewer construction and facility improvement from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The funds will help go towards construction of a sanitary sewer system in the Avenue B & C Colonia Improvement District and will help connect the new collection system to the City of Yuma’s existing treatment facility.

The area covers 361 acres and includes approximately 782 properties and is bound by 1st and 8th Streets and Avenues B and C. Currently, about 92% of the residences in this colonia rely on septic tanks or cesspools. With the proximity of the Colorado River, this can be environmentally hazardous and play a part in the degradation of the already impoverished area.

“This is an area with substandard utilities resulting in deficient health and safety standards and I welcome the funds,” said Grijalva. “The need for a sanitary sewer system is great, and this takes the steps needed to help move this project forward.”

“The development of this project has been a priority for the residents of B & C Colonia and myself since I took office in 2001,” said Supervisor Lenore Loroña Stuart. “This announcement is the result of the combined hard work of many county employees’, B & C residents and the unwavering efforts of Congressman Grijalva and staff.

For more information, please visit www.usda.gov/recovery.