This grant provides funding to the Town of North Wilkesboro to support construction of a 500,000-gallon, elevated water tank. The total cost of the tank is approximately $2.2 million. As usage has increased throughout the system, the inadequate existing water supply in the area to be served by the tank has created a bottleneck that ultimately results in very low water pressure, especially during peak system demand. The town has determined that without the new tank, it cannot meet the fire suppression requirements that are needed to allow a local company, JELD-WEN, to continue to expand its current facility. The proposed water tank will also provide consistent water pressure along Highway 268, where Samaritan’s Purse is currently undergoing expansion and creating new jobs and will serve other planned businesses in the pressure zone. The town is requesting $580,000 from CDBG for the water tank and will use state loan funds to pay for the balance.
