The citizens of the Blackjack Community in Lincoln County had been plagued by failing septic systems for over 30 years. Lincoln County requested EMI to assist them with the initial planning efforts to extend sanitary sewer service to the Blackjack Community. EMI assisted Lincoln County with sewer service area negotiations with the City of Lincolnton, and also worked with the County’s Grant Writer to conduct income surveys of the target area.

EMI prepared a preliminary engineering report to support a Community Development Block Grant application. The report thoroughly documented the need for the project along with the proposed improvements. As a result of the application, Lincoln County was awarded a $500,000 CDBG for the project.

Following the CDBG award, EMI assisted Lincoln County with financial analysis, preliminary engineering and environmental clearances for the remainder of the project funding from USDA-Rural Development. The USDA funding consisted of a $1.254 million low interest loan and $2.186 million in grant funds in addition to the $500,000 in CDBG grant funds.

At project completion over 135 homes were taken off of their failing septic systems and placed on the public sewer system. The system consisted of 4 main pump stations, 7 grinder pump stations, approximately 15,000 LF of gravity sewer lines and associated manholes, and almost 7 miles of forcemains.