WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Thad Cochran, R-Miss., today announced that the City of Biloxi will receive a nearly $9.0 million grant to purchase infrastructure easements.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will award a Public Assistance grant worth $8,955,627 to Biloxi for ongoing work to improve infrastructure damaged during Hurricane Katrina and subsequent storms.

“This FEMA grant offers critical funding to Biloxi to make infrastructure upgrades in preparation for future storms,” Wicker said. “Local residents will benefit from these improvements and the community will be stronger and better equipped in the long run.”

“Biloxi will be able to use these funds to improve its water and wastewater systems to withstand future storms,” Cochran said.

The funding will be used to purchase permanent easements required to replace damaged water and sewer infrastructure. No state or local matching funds are required with this award.

FEMA Public Assistance grants provide supplemental disaster assistance to state, local and tribal governments and some nonprofit organizations for debris removal and emergency protective measures. These grants can also fund the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly-owned facilities.