84064701

Description:
The agreement provides funding to the Southwest Environmental Finance Center (SW EFC). Specifically, the recipient will provide training and technical assistance to rural, small, and tribal communities, in consultation with states, to help plan, develop, and acquire financing for wastewater infrastructure projects. The major activities include community outreach, community engagement, project development, building capacity, assisting with finance, funding, and application development; creating tools and resources, and evaluating success. The end goal is to provide communities with a greater understanding of the overall funding process, more willingness to seek funding in the future, and increased comfort with funding these types of systems through state revolving fund programs.

Activities:
The activities include community outreach, community engagement, project development, building capacity, assisting with finance, funding, and application development; creating tools and resources, and evaluating success in rural, small, and tribal communities regarding their wastewater systems. Training and direct technical assistance (TA) will be provided to operators, managers, and elected leaders on a wide variety of topics to build technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capacity and build a sustainable, climate-resilient utility that is operated within regulatory requirements. The team will deploy the 'Funding Navigator' concept that the SW EFC has been instrumental in starting and promoting around the country. This process will enable communities to get the assistance they need to develop projects and complete applications for funding. They will also host funding roundtables to encourage communities to engage with funders.

Some specific activities will vary by region, as different subrecipients will be carrying out the projects. For example, the Great Lakes EFC at Michigan Tech will focus on conducting analyses on the potential benefits of partnership, collaboration, and centralizing with other systems. EFC West will develop an in-depth course into acquisition of federal funding. This three-year effort will develop and deliver in-depth federal funding training to support applicants for and recipients of funding, particularly the IIJA grants and forgivable loans. Morgan State University will provide in-person training and technical assistance on the planning, development, and acquisition of finance to assist the communities with projects and activities to manage, reduce, treat, or recapture stormwater or subsurface drainage water; to reuse or recycle wastewater, stormwater, or subsurface drainage water; and for watershed projects. The University of Maryland EFC will work with communities to provide a more holistic and proactive approach that utilizes asset management, collaboration and other cost-saving measures; integrates long-term drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and green infrastructure planning to create efficiencies and accomplish multiple community priorities; and leverages economic development opportunities. Finally, WaterNow will build upon the successful WaterSmart Technical Assistance Program and the Project Accelerator to connect with communities in need of additional capacity and/or expertise.

Subrecipient:
The Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) project team includes eight subrecipients: Syracuse University EFC, University of Maryland EFC, Wichita State University EFC, Michigan Technological University EFC, EFC West, Moonshot Missions, WaterNow Alliance, and Morgan State University. The team will also include two private firms that will be selected postaward. An additional organization, Coosa Riverkeeper, will be a subawardee to EFC West. The subrecipients make up the team that will be carrying out this project, with experience and capabilities in every area necessary to serve disadvantaged communities and develop quality infrastructure projects, including planning and assessment, proje

University Of New Mexico

66.446 - Technical Assistance for Treatment Works (Clean Water Act [CWA] Section 104(b)(8))

Office of Grants and Debarment (OGD) [EPA - HQ]

Office of Water (OW) [EPA - HQ]

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001 United States

Single Zip Code

None