The IEPA provides federal funding assistance for public wastewater projects through the Water Pollution Control Loan Program (WPCLP). To qualify, applicants must be a unit of local government (i.e., city, village, or sanitary district, etc.) planning one of the following type of projects: a new wastewater collection and treatment facility or upgrade/expansion of an existing facility; replacement, rehabilitation, or extension of existing wastewater collection systems and interceptors; or separation of combined sewer systems (or upgrade of a combined system to eliminate overflows, surcharging, or flooding). Loan funding at 2.5% interest for up to 20-year term can be obtained. For more information, please visit: www.haengr.com.

Through the cleanup efforts of more than 10,000 Adopt-A-Highway volunteers throughout Illinois, visitors and tourists have a better first impression of our state. The Illinois Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) programs brings citizen volunteers into partnerships with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to pick up trash and keep our roadsides clean. The IL AAH program began in 1995, and today nearly 1,700 volunteer groups have adopted 3,400 miles of highway. Each year these groups collect 32,000 bags of trash from state highways. Illinois has the third largest road system in the nation with more than 139,000 miles of state, county, municipal and township roads. The state highway system is made up of nearly 17,000 miles. Who is eligible? Just about anyone can take part. Civil groups, clubs, organizations, groups of up to 10, and participants at least 10 years of age. When your group applies to IDOT, you may choose a two-mile section of highway to adopt, as long as it has not been selected by another group. Volunteer groups agree to remove litter from their section of highway at least four times each year for a two-year period. In return for this partnership, IDOT will provide roadside signs identifying your groups as an Illinois Adopt-A-Highway program participant. IDOT provides safety vests and trash bags to volunteers and removes the filled bags from the roadside. The IL Adopt-A-Highway program is a great tool in educating and encouraging people to stop littering and keep our roadsides clean. If you are interested in adding your group of friends, neighbors, coworkers or club members to the list of volunteers and make a positive impact on the area where you live, you can receive more information by contacting your regional coordinator on the IDOT website. You can also download an application from the website as well. The website address is: www.idot.state.il.us.