'Sweat equity' may earn ORCA grant for South County water

Around 40 people showed up for a public meeting of the South Jasper Water District July 26 to discuss a grant that would improve water service to many families.

Jasper County Judge Mark Allen said turnout was sufficient to impress ORCA (Office of Rural Community Affairs) representatives, who are looking for communities willing to commit "sweat equity" to accomplish improvements.

"We feel we will have good volunteer support for this type program," Allen said. "Quite a few signed up at the meeting, and others volunteered to go door-to-door and speak with neighbors."

County grant writer David Waxman said the STEP grant (Small Towns Environment Program) has been utilized successfully by the county twice before.

STEP's purpose is to solve water problems by matching ORCA funds with an in-kind match of labor that comes from county crews, inmates, and/or volunteers.

The Buna project proposes to lay several miles of new water line.

"This is the type of program that lends itself to volunteer support," according to Waxman.

ORCA says that STEP programs save an average of 53 percent to participating communities.