PRINCETON – The Town of Princeton has received over $4 million in grants from the NC General Assembly to assist with local projects. Princeton will be receiving $4,092,000 for water and sewer upgrades, flood mitigation and community faculties.
“I want to thank Representative Larry Strickland and Senator Benton Sawrey for assisting us securing the funds for these projects. These funds will go directly to the projects and without the appropriation, the town would have had to use local taxes or borrow funds,” said Mayor Don Rains.
The waste water treatment operation will receive $2,520,000 towards upgrading the sewer system to increase plant operation by 300,000 gallons per day. The expanded capacity will give Princeton the ability to serve additional residents and businesses. The appropriation will help the town to match any additional grants or low interest loans to complete the expansion.
Additional funding was needed for the western areas of Princeton for flood mitigation and drainage. In receiving the $1,257,000 grant, Mayor Rains says Princeton can begin the process of drainage from Eagles Crest Subdivision to Barden Street and Beaver Dam Creek. Funds are currently in place for the southern parts of town and Beaver Dam Creek to Wayne County.
The new Princeton Community Center received $315,000 to assist in underwriting the building construction. The center will be the home of the Princeton Library and Media Center, two large meeting rooms, and an amphitheater.
“All of these projects add to the quality of life of the Princeton community by promoting growth, resiliency by overcoming flooding, and enriching our community by having a premier community center.” Mayor Rains said.
It’s wonderful that our state income taxes are supplying grant money to small towns that can’t afford to keep up their infrastructure otherwise. I really don’t understand why Princeton wants to build an expensive new community center when they are literally 20 minutes away from a huge convention center at Wayne Community College and a large auditorium on the campus of Johnston Community College. The existing Princeton Community Center just needs a little facelift and some modernization – just paint alone would help the exterior. Looks like an old army cafeteria, but it has good bones. As a budget conscious individual, I would recommend the town renovate the existing structure, add a space for the library and build the greenspace and exterior amphitheatre. Renovate the park on the other side of town with more features for the children and parents – maybe add a pickleball court (apparently, that’s the rage). Put in some basketball courts for the teens and save $MM. But I’m not the mayor, so…my opinion doesn’t matter. 🙂
I would do the same thing Renovate the old one
Princeton gets lots of money from sponsors. Trust me