Jim Thorpe Borough has secured a $4.25 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to upgrade its water infrastructure.

The announcement was made Wednesday by state Sen. Dave Argall and state Rep. Doyle Heffley, who praised the project’s potential to improve the quality of life for borough residents while providing a financially viable solution for the community.

The PENNVEST loan will fund the construction of a new 5,800-foot water main under Center Avenue, replacing two existing mains that have been in service for more than a century. The replacement will feature an 8-inch ductile iron pipe and will include 111 services and nine hydrants along Center Avenue, extending from the Spring Street tank through the Heights section to Pine Avenue.

“I’m pleased to see this affordable financing option support essential improvements for residents in the 122nd District,” Heffley said. “It’s always gratifying to see opportunities that enhance quality of life while easing the financial burden on our community.”

Argall also emphasized the significance of securing this highly competitive funding. “I’m grateful Jim Thorpe was able to secure this highly competitive funding to ensure their residents have access to clean water,” he said.

The water main replacement project is part of a broader effort to modernize the borough’s aging infrastructure. Connor Rodgers, chairperson of the Jim Thorpe Borough Council Water Committee, expressed gratitude for the funding and recognized the collective efforts that led to the project’s approval.

“The Borough of Jim Thorpe is grateful to have secured a $4,250,000 loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority,” Rodgers said. “This funding source comes at a good time for the borough as it coincides with the conclusion of a previous loan from Mauch Chunk Trust. This effort would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many individuals, including our employees in the Water Department who work tirelessly to maintain our system daily, our administrative staff, Entech Engineering, and former council members, including Jay Miller, who was an advocate for this particular project.”

Rodgers explained that the project will significantly benefit residents by improving the borough’s water supply system for public consumption. He acknowledged the high quality of the current system but emphasized the need for continuous upgrades.

“The work will include an 8-inch ductile iron pipe, 111 services, and nine hydrants along Center Avenue,” Rodgers said. “The project, when completed, will replace outdated infrastructure to benefit residents of the borough by improving the overall water supply system for public consumption. While the system is already of high quality, there are numerous infrastructure improvements needed. By moving forward with this project, the borough is working to improve our system that our residents rely on every day.”