Zelienople Borough Council voted Monday to accept a loan of up to $3.5 million to complete stormwater and other infrastructure improvement projects.

The loan comes from the county's infrastructure bank program, which offers loans to municipalities at a subsidized interest rate to be repaid over a 10-year term. For Zelienople, that amounts to an interest rate of just 0.56 percent.

“It's such a wonderful deal that the county has put together,” borough manager Don Pepe said.

The loan can be “called upon,” similar to a line of credit, Pepe said. He pointed out how the majority of the loan, should the borough choose to take it, will likely go to stormwater projects. The funding will also help cover costs for parts of the Main Street revitalization project.

“It's going to be used primarily for the stormwater projects that we have. We have two or three pretty large stormwater projects,” Pepe said. “If the grant money we applied for doesn't work, then the infrastructure bank money will be used.”

The largest of the projects is a stormwater holding pond between Interstate 79 and the Zelienople Community Park. Pepe did not say how much that project would cost, as the borough has not requested proposals, but expects it will likely be “significant.”

The other projects include downstream improvements, such as enlarging pipes that carry stormwater.

Pepe emphasized the loan is akin to a line of credit, that the borough can call on the money if it is necessary, and that it is not locked into taking the full $3.5 million.

Pepe said any remaining work from Phase 2 of the revitalization project — which includes streetscape improvements from Spring Street to Beaver Street — could be addressed with the funding. The third phase, working from New Castle Street to the bridge, is another candidate for funding from the loan.