Winneshiek County will apply for several loans and grants to pay for Festina wastewater treatment plant upgrades

Improvements to the Festina Wastewater Treatment Plant will carry an estimated price of $778,000.

On Monday, Winneshiek County Supervisors approved a plan to raise that money largely through grants and low-interest loans.

The firm of SEH of Mason City has been providing engineering services for the project.  SEH Engineer Tom Madden on Monday told supervisors there are numerous possible sources of funding for the work.  They include a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant and a revolving loan fund operated by the State of Iowa which charges zero percent interest.

County supervisors voted unanimously on Monday to approve applications to the funding sources.