Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The State of Minnesota has announced more than $265 million in loans and grants for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects and a big chunk of that funding has been awarded to the City of Rochester.

The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority says a total of 27 projects aimed at replacing aging infrastructure and making system improvements to protect public health and water quality will benefit from the loans and grants. $182 million will come from the agencies Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which are supported through federal appropriations from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Rochester has been awarded a total of $80 million. Most of it, $72 million, will be in the form of a low interest loan. The remaining $8 million will be grant money.

The city applied for the funding to finance a major rehabilitation project involving the community's wastewater treatment plant. Rochester officials say the work is needed to replace aging equipment and to meet more stringent federal limits concerning phosphorus discharges.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held in August. It is expected to be completed in December 2026 with a total price tag of nearly $100 million.