The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality will receive $356,700 to improve water quality and create green jobs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Nationally, the agency will award a total of $39 million.

"The Recovery Act investments are meeting urgent needs for economic growth and protecting human health and the environment," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson in a release. "Communities across the nation can count on green jobs to help pull them out of this downturn and ensure the long-term strength of our economy and our environment."

"With this Recovery Act funding, Mississippi will pursue additional water quality planning activities that will lead to increased economic activity and new water quality protection efforts in the state," said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator in Atlanta in the release. "This funding will benefit Mississippi residents by promoting improved water quality while strengthening the economy through green jobs."