Just one area sewer project was among those receiving millions in federal stimulus funding.

The stimulus funds will be in the form of 50 percent low-interest and 50 percent forgivable principal loans totaling $47.8 million for wastewater projects and $18.9 million for drinking water projects.

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities had applied for about $7 million worth of projects – six wastewater and three water – but didn’t receive any funding.

Mike Gardner, BGMU’s systems manager for water and sewer, said he wasn’t familiar with any of the projects that were funded to know why they would have been chosen.

“Obviously I’m disappointed we didn’t receive any funding,” Gardner said.

That sentiment was echoed by Rep. Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, who has been an advocate for area infrastructure projects for decades.

“I am a little disappointed that there were not some resources approved for Bowling Green and Warren County and elsewhere in our area,” Richards said. “But I will continue to work in the regular session next year for additional funding for water and sewer projects in our area.”

Those communities with projects selected for funding “will be invited to make a full application” subject to final approval by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority board.

Russellville received the area’s only funding – $800,000 for a wastewater project. The city’s mayor, Gene Zick, was appointed by Governor Beshear to the Environmental Quality Commission.

Zick, who also has been recognized statewide for his environmental efforts, was thrilled to learn that the community will receive funding.

“We had actually asked for $1 million,” Zick said. “The project upgrades the Hi-View liftstation. The sewage there backflows into other mini-systems. When we get this done it will actually allow us to serve another 200 houses.”

The state received 320 applications for drinking water projects and 356 for sewer projects, totaling $1 billion.

One of the projects slated for funding was identified as Downtown Streetscape Green Infrastructure Program Initiative. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government will receive $2.6 million for the project.

“The project meets the specification for a Green Infrastructure project as determined by the EPA guidance,” Cindy Lanham, director of communications for the Department of Local Government, wrote in an e-mail to the Daily News. “Green Infrastructure includes a wide array of practices that manage wet weather to maintain and restore natural hydrology by infiltrating, evapotranspiring and capturing and using stormwater.”

The community, which is host to the 2010 World Equestrian Games, also received $237,000 for a drainage improvement project and the Kentucky Horse Park is getting $950,000 for “bioenergy management.”

Beshear’s hometown of Dawson Springs in Hancock County was also one of the communities receiving funding. It is getting $2.1 million for a water line replacement project. Madisonville, also in Hancock County, is getting $3.8 million for a main sewer interceptor system.

Democrat House Speaker Greg Stumbo’s hometown of Prestonsburg also is receiving $805,000 for a project that would build an emergency tie-in with Magoffin County’s water system and $897,000 for modification of the existing wastewater treatment plant. Republican Senate President David Williams’ hometown of Burkesville will get $1.1 million for a water line replacement project.

In Rep. Jeff Hoover’s district, Albany is getting $4 million for sewer improvements. The Republican is minority floor leader.

Shepherdsville, where the state hopes to see built a 2,000-employee battery manufacturer, will get $3 million to build a regional sewer interceptor system.

— The complete list of projects funded can be found at www.kia.ky.gov.