Princeton Secures Nearly $2 Million In Grants For Water And Sewer Upgrades

PRINCETON, NC – The Town of Princeton has been awarded two significant grants totaling $1,960,168 from the North Carolina State Water Infrastructure Authority (SWIA). These funds, approved during the February 18, 2026, SWIA board meeting, are dedicated to vital improvements of the town’s drinking water and wastewater systems.

The awards include:

• $993,980 for Water System Improvements: Funding for the modernization of aging water lines and infrastructure to ensure a reliable supply of clean drinking water.
• $966,188 for Collection System Repairs & Meter Upgrades: Funding focused on rehabilitating the underground sewer network to prevent leaks and improve efficiency. This project also includes a town-wide upgrade to install new radio-read meters for all citizens, allowing for more accurate, real-time billing and faster leak detection.

These grants were awarded through the Viable Utility Reserve (VUR), a state fund established to assist local governments in maintaining long-term financial and operational health.

“This is another massive win for the citizens of Princeton,” said Mayor Stacy Johnson. “As our town continues to grow, we must ensure our infrastructure is not just keeping up, but leading the way. These funds allow us to fix some of our aging pipes, upgrade our technology with radio-read meters, and improve our water quality without burdening our citizens with this expense.”

Mayor Johnson also emphasized that securing these competitive funds was a team effort. “I want to personally thank Town Administrator Michael King and Marla Ashworth with TRC for their diligent persistence. Their dedication to the application process and their technical expertise were instrumental in bringing these tax dollars back to our community.”

These latest awards complement the town’s ongoing infrastructure overhaul, which includes a $10.5 million wastewater treatment plant expansion. By repairing the collection system and installing advanced metering technology now, the town will maximize efficiency and provide better service to every household.

Work on the design and engineering phase for these projects is expected to begin later this year.