JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Seven Northwest Missouri governments will receive wastewater system or drinking water system grants for community construction projects, Gov. Jay Nixon said Monday.

Mr. Nixon said some of the affected communities have outdated drinking water and wastewater systems and require serious repairs.

The city of Weston, Mo., has been certified to receive a $3.67 million grant for drinking water system improvements. The city of Cameron, Mo., was awarded a $2.78 million grant for a drinking water project. The Clinton County Water District will receive a $2.2 million grant for drinking water improvements.

Meanwhile, the city of Chillicothe, Mo., was certified to receive a $2 million grant for a wastewater system improvement project. The city of Platte City, Mo., will receive $1.29 million for a wastewater project, while the city of Kingston, Mo., will receive more than $742,000 for wastewater improvements.

The city of King City, Mo., will receive more than $796,000 in grant funds to improve the community's drinking water system.

The news coincided with Mr. Nixon's announcement of a Work Now initiative, which will commit more than $260 million in federal and state funds to wastewater and drinking water construction projects across Missouri. A total of 60 projects received funding approval.

Work Now will rely in part on $146 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The EPA has provided funds for the projects to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources through federal grants. Communities and local governments were required to apply for the funding through the state, have their projects certified as appropriate and complete a financial arrangement process with the DNR before receiving funds.

The state is contributing more than $120 million in revolving loan funds to supplement the federal allocation.