North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue announced 70 highway and bridge projects as part of the state’s stimulus spending Tuesday, none of which were in Richmond County.

However, Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump is confident some of those federal dollars will find their way here.

“We’ve got two proposals out there, with the East Rockingham water and sewer project, and the expansion to the wastewater treatment plant,” Crump said.

He explained the way the money was given to the state, in came in pots. There was a roads and highways pot, which Perdue has already allocated.

The City of Rockingham is eyeing the water and sewer pot.

“In this area in East Rockingham, it’s a dire need,” Crump said. “I know Richmond County Health Department regularly works with folks over there that have a failing septic tank. I field calls on a pretty regular basis from folks who have failing septic tanks, and we don’t want folks to be forced from their homes because of sewer issues, but that’s the case in a lot of these areas.”

Rockingham has already spent $325,000 to design and permit the project, according to a letter the city sent to U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell on Jan. 13.

The same letter states 640 homes would be provided public sewer through the project.

Crump said the latest estimate for the project brings it in at $6.7 million.

“I would be really surprised if the East Rockingham project isn’t funded,” Crump said. “There’s a need there, and honestly this is probably the only way it will get funded, because it’s an unincorporated part of the county, and the funding just isn’t there.”

Once completed, the project would be connected to Rockingham Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The city is also proposing that its local match to grant funds on a project to expand the wastewater treatment plant be covered under the stimulus, Crump said.

Crump also said the city has proposed a new water plant, but it is doubtful that will receive funding because it still needs work on the design and engineering end.

Finally, Crump said the city has also proposed the recreation complex it is planning to be a candidate for stimulus funding.

“These are more discretionary funds, but we may see something come of that,” he said.