EPA Announces $7.5B in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) funding.
Eligible applicants: local governments, states, tribal entities, Corporations.
Announcement Type: FOA. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for both WIFIA and SWIFIA loans.
Opportunity: Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program.
Overview and Eligible Uses: The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program is a federal loan initiative overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Its primary goal is to expedite investments in the country's water infrastructure by offering extended-term, low-cost, supplementary credit support for projects of regional and national significance. This announcement marks the commencement of the EPA's 7th round of WIFIA financing, catering to both WIFIA and State WIFIA (SWIFIA) loans, which are specifically designed for State infrastructure financing authority borrowers. Potential borrowers can also access technical guidance to craft funding requests that align with the WIFIA program's prerequisites. This support is intended to enable small and disadvantaged communities to benefit from WIFIA funding.
For this latest funding round, the EPA has identified specific priority areas, including:
Increasing investment in economically distressed communities.
Accelerating lead service line replacement.
Addressing issues related to PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) and emerging contaminants.
Mitigating the impacts of drought.
Supporting water innovation and resilience.
Amount: $7.5B in total: $6.5B for WIFIA and $1 billion through SWIFIA.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law earmarks $50 billion for U.S. water projects, with $11.1 billion designated for WIFIA. The $7.5 billion announced here, is its initial disbursement.
Award Type: Loan Program
Eligible Applicants: Eligible borrowers are:
Local, state, and tribal government entities
Partnerships and joint ventures
Corporations and trusts
Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs
Key Dates: Like a bank, the WIFIA program has funding available on an ongoing basis. This allows prospective borrowers to request financing on their schedule. A rolling selection process allows EPA to provide year-round access to WIFIA funding and quicker selection decisions to prospective borrowers.
Key Links:
For a full list of currently available grant programs under the Infrastructure Law and other helpful tools, take a look at our Helpful Resources page.
This tracker will continue to send updates when new funding opportunities are announced.