EPA Directly Soliciting Applications For Water Infrastructure Project Loans

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week announced it is now accepting applications for an estimated $5.5 billion in loan funding for water and wastewater infrastructure projects, including green infrastructure projects, under the federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.  The deadline for letters of interest is July 6.

Eligible applicants include local, state, tribal, and federal government entities, partnerships and joint ventures; corporations and trusts; nonprofit groups and Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs.

Eligible projects include--

-- Any projects eligible for Clean Water-- including green infrastructure projects-- and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program funding;

-- Enhanced energy efficiency projects at drinking water and wastewater facilities;

-- Brackish or seawater desalination, aquifer recharge, alternative water supply, and water recycling projects;

-- Drought prevention, reduction, or mitigation projects;

-- Acquisition of property if it is integral to the project or will mitigate the environmental impact of a project; and

-- A combination of projects secured by a common security pledge or submitted under one application by an SRF program.

Minimum project size--

-- $20 million: Minimum project size for large communities;

-- $5 million: Minimum project size for small communities (population of 25,000 or less); and

-- 49 Percent: Maximum portion of eligible project costs that WIFIA can fund.

WIFIA is being managed by program staff located in EPA headquarters. All questions should be directed to EPA headquarters staff at: wifia@epa.gov, and all application materials will be submitted to EPA headquarters. EPA regional staff may assist with the process including coordination with State Revolving Fund programs in their region.

For all the details, visit EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act webpage.