A joint venture between the city of Harlan and the Harlan County Board of Education to extend sewage lines to the Rosspoint area just got a boost with $1.5 million in federal funding that has been obtained by Congressman Hal Rogers, his office announced Friday.

If signed into law, funding will be used to provide municipal sewer collection services to the communities of Baxter and Rosspoint, according to a release from Rogers' communications director, Leslie Cupp.

The joint project, estimated to cost an overall $4.3 million, would serve approximately 2,500 students at Rosspoint Elementary and the new Harlan County High School off U.S. 119. An estimated 500 homes in the area will also benefit from the project.

The announcement comes on the heels of a meeting between city and county school board officials where a decision to partner on the project was reached - if the city could secure funding in a time that would be consistent with the construction needs of the high school.

Otherwise, the school board will have to utilize a package plant for the school.

“This project is vital to the long-term future of Harlan County,” said Rogers, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.

“Connecting homes and public facilities to safe, sanitary means of disposing wastewater is critical to improving the quality of life for our people and creating a healthy climate for economic growth,” he said.

Rogers said he will work to keep the $1.5 million funding in place “as we move through the budget process.”

“This is the first step in serving these schools and homes,” he said.

Harlan Mayor Danny Howard has said he is sure the proposed joint project would meet the expectations and deadlines of the school board, “provided that we all work together on obtaining the necessary funding.”

Howard said he is pleased with the $1.5 million announcement and that the city of Harlan will continue to seek other funding sources.

“Hopefully, we'll be able to get this completed ... because the school board's on a timetable,” he said. “With the congressman's help, it will make it a lot easier.”

The city will likely submit a wastewater construction grant through PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment) this summer and may even tap into coal severance funds, if necessary, to make the project a go.

Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop said the fiscal court will commit coal severance dollars to the project because the project “would be an excellent use of those funds.”

“We would consider it leverage money if it is used in conjunction with Congressman Rogers' grants,” he said.

But Howard emphasized that while the county is willing to work with the city on obtaining funds for the project, the city will first seek all available federal funding before relying on coal severance dollars.

He said the project will “connect” the communities near Rosspoint because straight pipes will be eliminated and the cost of operating sewage lines will be shared.

Harlan County Schools Superintendent Tim Saylor, who has expressed concerns with funding and timing in relation to the school's construction deadlines, on Friday said the sewage line extension is an important part of the high school project.

“We are pleased to hear of the congressman's success in obtaining this funding. I thank him for his concern of the welfare of our citizens, especially our students,” he said.

Jenny Huddleston, with Rogers' office in Somerset, has said the office has the project listed as a priority.

Funding for the project is included in the House version of the Fiscal Year 2007 Interior Appropriations bill, approved by the House of Representatives on May 18, according to Rogers' office.