EAST SPENCER — The town of East Spencer was awarded a $2.4 million state grant to rehabilitate its water and sewer system. The town’s application was chosen from among 119 submitted.

The town board authorized the project application in August  and it was submitted to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources in October. The town received notification this week it had won the grant.

The grant will cover the cost of improving and replacing failing water lines and valves. The grant funds will also pay for the installation of about 12,000 lineal feet of 8-inch and 6-inch water lines. There will be about 4,500 feet of new 12-inch water mains installed.

“This is wonderful news for the town. We are delighted to know that the town will receive a major investment in our water system in the near future,” said Mayor Barbara Mallett.

Mallett said this will tremendously boost the town’s economic development potential and its fire safety status.

The grant contract should be in place by June with engineering plan approval in place by February 2016. Construction is expected to begin in early 2017.

Town Administrator Macon Sammons Jr. said a number of months will be devoted to planning, preparation and engineering for the project.

See more in Friday’s Post.