$6 Billion in New WIFIA Funding Available for Water Infrastructure

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced the 2020 notice of funding availability under its Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, including funding for the new State Water Infrastructure Financing Authority (SWIFIA) program. The announcement marks the fourth round of WIFIA funding. The funding programs accelerate investment in critical water infrastructure through innovative … Read more

Cost of Infrastructure Fluctuates During Economic Slowdowns

The full economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is still unknown at this point. However, economists predict varying degrees of economic downturn. To compound the issue, oil producing regions are contending with the price of oil bottoming out at the same time. Although there are a lot of unknowns when it comes to the future … Read more

Stormwater Management and Master Planning – Why It Matters to Planners

This article was originally published in the January 2020 edition of The Western Planner. As planners we often talk about creating a “Vision for the Future” for the regions and communities we serve. That vision may include elements of future land use, urban design, growth policies, housing, social justice, economic development, and the list goes … Read more

Money Down the Drain

Shifting climate patterns and periods of drought and excessive precipitation appear to becoming increasingly extreme, posing continual challenges such as physical setbacks in the agricultural industry and social challenges associated with extreme weather conditions. In the water industry, we find ourselves simultaneously working toward solutions to conditions of both too little water and too much … Read more

USDA Invests $192 Million in Rural Water Infrastructure Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $192 million in 71 rural water infrastructure projects across 29 states. The funding comes from the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Rural communities, water districts and other eligible entities can use the funds for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural … Read more

USEPA Announces $2.6 Billion in New Funding

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently announced the availability of $2.6 billion in new funds to assist States, Tribes and territories with improving drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across the country. In 2019, USEPA is making available more than $1 billion in new Federal grant funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). This funding … Read more