Northampton Exploring Federal Grant to Extend Sewer Service Toward Route 13

Northampton County is pursuing a potential federal grant that could help finance a major sewer infrastructure project designed to support future economic development between Cape Charles and U.S. Route 13.

County Administrator Matt Spuck told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that he has begun preparing a draft application for a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant focused on rural public works projects that encourage business growth.

The proposed project would extend sewer service from Virginia American Water’s Cape Charles wastewater system toward Route 13. Lack of central sewer on at the Stone Road Route 13 intersection has been raised as an issue preventing development. 

Spuck said he has already circulated a draft application among project partners to gauge their support before formally moving forward.

“So far the response has been positive,” he said, noting that he is still awaiting feedback from Virginia American Water.

According to Spuck, the utility would likely be one of the project’s primary beneficiaries because the improvements would increase the capacity of its treatment plant by approximately 250,000 gallons per day.

“That would be a huge benefit to them,” he said.

When asked whether the grant could also support decentralized wastewater systems, Spuck said the proposal is a better fit for expanding an existing treatment facility.

“It meets their requirements better if we improve an existing facility than building a new one,” he said, adding that constructing a new wastewater treatment plant would be prohibitively expensive.

Spuck also noted that the federal grant does not require a local matching contribution, making it an attractive funding opportunity if the county decides to proceed.

County officials have not yet committed to submitting the application but are continuing discussions with project partners as they evaluate the feasibility of the proposal.