Bossier Parish and Bossier City was officially awarded over $26 million in low-interest loans from the state Monday.

Hal Leggett, secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, was on hand to issue three awards — to Bossier Parish, Bossier City and Benton — for sewer issues. Bossier Parish received $17.75 million for sewer treatment projects, Bossier City received $8.5 million for new headworks at the sewer treatment plant and Benton received $418,000 for water systems.

"This is a time to really be excited, both for the parish, and the city and the municipalities all across the area. We're glad to be involved in this huge step forward for Bossier Parish and Bossier City," said state Rep. Henry Burns.

The parish has been working on creating a new sewer system along the Highway 80 corridor and a treatment plant on the Red River for over six years.

"This has been a dream for six years. With this low interest loan, we're going to be taking care of a lot of people, we're going to be spreading out the growth of Bossier Parish, we're going to be improve the quality of life for residents and our streams," said Benton.

Bossier City Mayor Lorenz "Lo" Walker noted the city just passed a $125 million bond issue to work on water and sewer and catastrophe when the sewer treatment plant headworks collapsed and no funds were available to fix it.

"It's going to be a $14 million project and this money goes a long way towards helping us resolve this emergency," said Walker.

DEQ received $43 million for sewer works from federal stimulus package and out of that came $418,000 for the town of Benton.

"On behalf of Mayor (Albert) Doughty, I can tell you he's going to appreciate this until he comes asking for more," joked Parish Administrator Bill Altimus.

The funding was obtained through the work of the parish officials along with state Representative Jane Smith and Burns. Parish officials met with the state to inquire about funding during the past legislative session and Smith and Burns alerted them to money that would be available on a first come, first serve basis.

The two thanked each other, Smith saying Burns kept reminding her about the project and Burns saying Smith can get things done with her "leadership and seniority."

"When (Burns) explained it to me, I knew we couldn't piecemeal the project any longer, that we had to pursue this low interest money," said Smith.

"It takes a community to accomplish what you've done. A lot of times across the state I see communities fighting against each other and up here I see a common voice that we need to promote Bossier and Shreveport area and help it grow," said Leggett.

Smith thanked Gov. Bobby Jindal for his interest and involvement in northwest Louisiana.

"We're thrilled we have a governor who comes to this part of the state and we want to say thanks to him and we know he has an interest in this economic engine of the state," said Smith.

Leggett said he is on the same page with the governor when it comes to ideal of equality, helping the public and promoting Louisiana as well as having a growing economy that does not harm the environment.

"I understand what it takes to make a living and protect the environment and I've always believed that you can do both," said Leggett.

He said infrastructure is more than roads and highways, it is sewer treatment, or as he calls them, "poo-poo plants."