$115 Million Federal Funding Breakthrough Aims to Address Racial Disparities in Jackson’s Water Crisis

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FILE - EPA Administrator Michael Regan, right, speaks to reporters at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant, a Ridgeland, Miss.-based facility near Jackson, Miss., about longstanding water issues that have plagued the city, Nov. 15, 2021. A Mississippi environmental regulator has denied claims that the state agency he leads discriminated against the capital city of Jackson in allocating federal funds and said he believed an ongoing civil rights investigation into the matter was politically motivated. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
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In a major development, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Jackson, Mississippi, is set to receive a whopping $115 million to bolster its critical water infrastructure.

This funding will ensure safe and reliable drinking water for the city’s residents, making a significant step forward. The investment is part of a $600 million congressional appropriation backed by President Biden in 2023. It underscores the administration’s commitment to providing clean, safe water for all people, including the people of Jackson.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan expressed his dedication to resolving the infrastructure challenges faced by the community. The funding not only addresses the immediate crisis but aims to prevent future emergencies.

The city of Jackson and the state of Mississippi will be eligible for additional financial support, aligning with the president’s Justice40 Initiative, which seeks to benefit marginalized communities burdened by pollution and under-investment.


Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.

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