Eastern Kentucky PRIDE opens Homeowner Septic Program; Lee & Owsley Qualifying Counties

     Eastern Kentucky PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment) at The Center for Rural Development announced recently that it has opened applications for the Homeowner Septic Program, thanks to funding secured through Community Project Funding by U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers.

     Eastern and southern Kentucky communities still have a significant number of households with straight pipes, no sewage disposal, or failing septic systems. Repairs can be costly, especially for low-income families. The Homeowner Septic Program will provide grants for septic system repairs, replacements, or installations for qualifying low-income families across the 42-counties that PRIDE serves.

    "Kentuckians deserve clean, safe communities and a key component of that is clean water" said Lonnie Lawson, President and CEO at The Center for Rural Development. “Waste from non-existent or failing septic systems eventually ends up in our groundwater and streams. This program will help us make a big difference in our region.”

    "I’ve talked with a lot of Kentuckians who want to have a proper septic system but cannot afford the repairs,” shared Crystal Cox, Septic Systems Coordinator for PRIDE. “I’m very excited to launch this program and bring hope to families and to protect the waterways in The Kentucky Wildlands.”

    The Homeowner Septic Program is available to low-income families who own the land and property where they live and that have electricity (or will have electricity upon completion of the septic project). Qualifications and applications are now available online at www.kypride.org, as well as at The Center for Rural Development or by calling 1-888-577-4339. Homeowners can also contact their local Health Departments for more information.

     Applications will be accepted until funding is exhausted. Qualifying counties are: Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Floyd, Green, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Taylor, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe.