Wednesday, June 17th 2009 | 10:20 p.m.

THE COLUMBIAN

The city of Battle Ground will receive a $7 million federal loan to rebuild the city's overburdened sewer system, U.S. Rep. Brian Baird announced Wednesday.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the $787 billion economic stimulus bill approved earlier this year. Battle Ground got a piece of the USDA's Water and Environmental Program, targeted to deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment in rural areas.

"The population of Clark County is expanding, and as more people move to the area, our infrastructure is experiencing some growing pains," Baird said in a prepared statement. "This money will create jobs in the short term, and in the long term will ensure the city's water infrastructure is better prepared to handle the additional residents."