Stearns County Offering $10K Grants and Low-Interest Loans for Septic System Upgrades

(KNSI) – Stearns County homeowners with failing septic systems have a golden opportunity to fix the problem, without flushing their savings down the drain.

The Stearns County Environmental Services Department offers financial help through grants and low-interest loans. The goal is to help property owners repair or replace outdated or non-compliant septic systems and protect the environment.

This year, Stearns County is handing out 10 septic system grants worth $10,000 each to those who qualify. Those eligible must have a household income of $78,250 or less for one to four people, or $103,300 or less for five to eight people. They must own and live on the property and have it listed as homesteaded.

The grant can cover things like design, permitting, and installation of a compliant system. These funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

If people don’t qualify for a grant, there’s still help. Stearns County also offers low-interest loans to anyone who needs them, with no income limits attached. The loans are paid back over seven years at 3% interest. Funding comes from the Minnesota Clean Water Partnership program and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Call Stearns County Environmental Services Department at 320-656-3613 for more information.

To apply for a grant, click here.

To apply for a loan, click here.

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