1. Funding Opportunities in the LRGV
Curry Jones, MPH
U.S. EPA Region 6

2. Presentation Objectives
Fiscal Challenges Facing the Environment
Overview of EPA Funding
WRDA
WIIN Act
CWA Section 319
SRF
Importance of leveraging
Points of Contact

3. WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ACT (WRDA)
Passed the Senate
Did not pass the House of Representatives
DOA
Schoolhouse Rock

4. WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE and INNOVATION ACT (WIFIA)
Passed the Senate
Pass the House of Representatives
President signed WIFIA into law
WIFIA is AUTHORIZED
Under 2017 Congress APPROPRIATED $1.5 Billion in Credits Available for Loans

5. WIFIA EPA Borrower Must Provide:
Provide secured (direct) loans and loan guarantees to eligible water infrastructure projects.
Borrower Must Provide:
A letter of interest that demonstrates their projects eligibility
Financial creditworthiness
Engineering feasibility, and
Project must align with EPA’s policy priorities.

6. WIFIA Eligible Projects
Drinking water treatment and distribution projects
Wastewater conveyance and treatment projects
Enhanced energy efficiency projects at drinking water and wastewater facilities
Desalination, aquifer recharge, alternative water supply, and water recycling projects
Drought prevention, reduction, or mitigation projects

7. How do I apply and POC? Phase 1: Project Selection:
January 10, 2017 – Federal Register Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Applications for WIFIA Opened
Prospective borrowers demonstrate their projects eligibility, financial creditworthiness, engineering feasibility, and alignment with EPA’s policy priorities.
April 10, 2017 – NOFA closed and 43 Letter of Interest Received
Phase 2: Project Approval: 
Each invitee submits an application for WIFIA credit assistance.
EPA conducts a detailed financial and engineering review of the project.
EPA negotiates them with the prospective borrower until they develop a mutually agreeable term sheet.
Administrator demonstrates project approval
Phase 3: Negotiation and Closing: 
WIFIA finalizes the terms of credit assistance to a prospective borrower. 
Administrator executes the credit agreement
EPA Region 6 Point of Contact: Tyrone Hoskin

8. WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS for the NATION ACT (WIIN)
Passed the Senate
Pass the House of Representatives
President signed WIIN into law
WIFIA is AUTHORIZED
No funding has been APPROPRIATED by Congress

9. WIIN National Grant Program
Small disadvantaged underserved communities
Under served communities
Does not have drinking water or sewer service
PWS that violates primary drinking water regulation
Total of 45% WIIN 55% non-federal, waiver
Authorization $60M FY17-21
no appropriation at this time
PWS or a States on behalf of a underserved community are eligible
EPA Region 6 Point of Contact: Javier Balli

11. CWA Section 319(h) Grants
Nonpoint Point Source

12. CWA Section 319(h) Funds
Federal leadership to help focus state and local nonpoint source efforts. Money allocated to States and Tribes annually
Supports
Financial Assistance
Education,
Training,
Technology transfer
Implementation of nonpoint source practices
Monitoring to assess the success of specific nonpoint source implementation projects.
Splint into two pots:
Program Funds (Program management / Plan development)
Implementation Funds (Implementation of control with a watershed plan
40% Match Requirement

13. NPS Financial Picture
Millions

14. CWA 319 Funding for Green Infrastructure
The goal of the CWA 319(h) funding is for States to develop and implement watershed based plans to protect and restore water quality.
EPA annually provides ~$7.0 million dollars to TCEQ and TSSWCB to fund watershed based plans and implementation throughout the State.
319(h) funds can be used to implement GI best management practices as long as they are not a requirement of an NPDES permit.
States may use § 319 funds for those urban stormwater activities that do not directly implement a final NPDES permit (e.g., not explicitly required in a permit or plan required by the permit) or an order applicable to regulated stormwater discharges under Clean Water Act § 402(p).
In addition, states may use § 319 funds for stormwater management activities that are not subject to NPDES permitting requirements under either §§ 402(p)(2) or 402(p)(6).
Examples of fundable GI practices include green roofs, infiltration basins, curb cuts and landscaped swales, and wetland/riparian area protection and restoration. These practices are generally considered eligible for § 319 funding as long as they do not directly implement a final NPDES permit (this list is not meant to be comprehensive)
Listed below are some urban runoff management activities in addition to green infrastructure that may generally be considered eligible for § 319 funding as long as they do not directly implement a final NPDES permit (this list is not meant to be comprehensive)
Technical assistance to state and local stormwater programs;
Monitoring needed to design and evaluate the effectiveness of implementation strategies;
BMPs for pollution prevention and runoff control (except for BMPs that directly implement NPDES permits);
Outreach and education programs outside of the general scope outlined within the NPDES permit;
Technology transfer and training;
Development and implementation of regulations, policies, and local ordinances to address storm water runoff (These may apply to areas covered by NPDES permits, provided that the regulations, policies and ordinances apply to non-permitted areas as well.); and
Stormwater projects occurring outside of the NPDES permit area.

15. Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grants
Administered by TCEQ and TSSWCB
“An integral component and funding source for the Texas NPS management programs which aim to control NPS pollution to achieve and maintain beneficial uses of waters throughout Texas.”
Program Elements:
NPS Assessment Reports – Identify NPS problems & sources
NPS Management Programs – State-adopted management program to control NPS pollution
Watershed Protection Plans (WPPs) – voluntary, stakeholder-driven plans to address all sources/causes of impairments; given priority
Project Types:
Demonstration Project
Watershed Project (WPP Development & WPP Implementation)
Additional details available at nonpoint-source/
Annual solicitations – TCEQ’s RFGA typically opens in early June and closes at the end of July each year. TCEQ’s RFGA is based on state’s prioritization of impaired waterbodies for restoration & protection efforts.

16. 319 Project Types – Information/Education
Tours
Signs
Curriculum
Displays
Storm-Drain stenciling
“Marketing”

17. 319 Project Types – Implementation Funds
To utilize implementation funds, watershed must have a watershed plan

18. Section 319 – Watershed-based Planning
Step 1: Build Partnerships
Step 2: Characterize Watershed
Step 3: Set Goals, Identify Solutions
Step 4: Develop implementation program
Step 5: Implement Plan
Step 6: Monitor and Evaluate

19. Fundable 319 NPS Projects Stormwater Projects:
Water Conservation and Reuse:
Efficient Irrigation Equipment
Development of Public Education Programs Water Conservation
Monitoring:
Monitoring Activities during startup (1st 3 years)
Source Water Protection:
Tree Plantings
Protection Activities in Well Protection
Surface Water Drainage
Land for Reservoirs
Impoundment or Dams
Stormwater Projects:
Green Roofs
Infiltration Basins
Curb Cuts
Landscaped Swales
Wetland Protection & Restoration

20. How Does a Project Get Selected for NPS Funding Consideration?
* State Requests NPS Proposals (Differs for LA & OK)
State Planning: Scopes & Development Projects
State Watershed Priority Report
State Evaluates & Ranks Applications
State Watershed Prioritization Planning
EPA Review, Approval & Award
State Consults with EPA to Review & Negotiate Draft SOWs
States Develop Full Grant Work Plan & Submit to EPA

21. TWDB STATE REVOLVING FUND
Drinking Water SRF- $250,000,000 available for drinking water projects (Very Small Systems ((<1K)) $2M, Disadvantaged Communities $7.8M, Subsidized Green $960K, Urgent Need $2M).
Clean Water SRF- $525,000,000 available for wastewater projects (Disadvantaged Communities $4.2M, Subsidized Green $961K).
In Texas we are fortunate to have the Texas Water Development Board as Region 6’s primary partner in carrying out the mission of EPA’s Drinking Water and Wastewater (a.k.a. Clean Water) State Revolving Funds. The “DWSRF” and “CWSRF” as they are commonly called.
Both programs are required to offer both below-market interest rates and additional subsidy. To meet the additional subsidy requirement, TWDB has elected to offer loan forgiveness of 30%, 50% or 70% to eligible disadvantaged communities (based upon the adjusted annual median household income the household cost factor), and to subsidize green projects (loan forgiveness of 15% for those elements of a project that are considered green infrastructure, water or energy efficient improvements, and environmentally innovative activities. The cost of the green portion of the project must be 30% or more of the total project cost.
For State Fiscal Year 2015, the TWDB received $64M in DWSRF funds from EPA that they will combine with principal and interest repayments from prior loans, investments earnings, additional cash resources, etc., to make $250,000,000 available for drinking water projects in Texas.
New to the DWSRF (“last year”) are the Very Small Systems program and their Urgent Need program.
The Very Small Systems program is to assist communities with populations of 1000 or less. It allows for up to 100% loan forgiveness for a maximum amount of $200,000.
The Urgent Need program offers up to 100% loan forgiveness for a maximum amount of $500,000 for projects addressing unforeseen situations that require immediate attention to protect public health and safety. The situation could be the result of prolonged drought or the result of catastrophic events or natural disasters.
For wastewater projects in Texas , the CWSRF program also recently received $64M as appropriated by Congress. With this $64M and the success that the CWSRF has experienced, the TWDB will be able to fund $525,000,000 in wastewater projects. The CWSRF also has funds available for disadvantaged communities and intends to provide additional subsidy to eligible green projects.
Yet, need to point out (actually stress) that entities are invited to submit applications early for loan forgiveness since demand for all of these loan forgiveness opportunities far outpaces its availability.
If not the CWSRF or the DWSRF as opportunities for communities in the Corpus Christi area, then perhaps one of TWDB’s other fourteen financial assistance programs, such as the Regional Water Planning Group Grants or their Economically Distressed Areas Program.
For more information on TWDB’s sixteen financial assistance program go to

22. How the SRF Programs Work
State Agencies with the
Procurement
Opportunities

23. State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs
Administered by Texas Water Development Board
Clean Water SRF program may fund a wide variety of water quality projects such as:
stormwater pollution control
nonpoint source pollution control
estuary management projects
eligible green project reserve (GPR) components
wastewater recycling & reuse improvements
wastewater treatment facilities
collection systems
Drinking Water SRF program may fund a variety of drinking water infrastructure projects such as:
water treatment facilities
distribution systems
upgrade/replace water infrastructure
address SDWA standards
source water protection projects
consolidation of systems
purchasing additional capacity
eligible GPR components
Provide low-cost financial assistance for planning, design, and construction of wastewater infrastructure (CWSRF) and water infrastructure (DWSRF)
Who can borrow?
Eligible CWSRF applicants include cities, counties, districts, river authorities, other public bodies, and private entities proposing nonpoint source or estuary management projects.
Eligible DWSRF applicants include publicly & privately owned community water systems, including nonprofit water supply corporations and nonprofit, non-community public water systems.

24. Eligible SRF Projects CWSRF examples DWSRF examples
Stormwater pipes, storage and treatment
Green infrastructure
Pervious pavement
Planting trees and shrubs
Wetland restoration
Conservation easement
Energy-efficiency POTW upgrades
Water conservation education
Water-efficient fixtures
Water meters
DWSRF examples
Pervious pavement
Bioretention
Green roof
Rain water harvesting
Gray water recycling/distribution
Xeriscaping
Water efficient irrigation
Water efficient plumbing fixtures
Water meters
Leak detection
Water conservation programs
Riparian buffers
Public education/outreach

25. Reliant Stadium – Houston, TX Porous Pavement & Infiltration Islands
gi in commercial areas
Starbucks – Austin, TX
Rainwater Cistern
Reliant Stadium – Houston, TX
Green Parking
WalMart – McKinney, TX
Porous Pavement & Infiltration Islands
Curb cuts into parking islands allow infiltration
Green parking lots
Permeable pavements
Water harvesting

26. gi for parking designs Porous areas such as:
bioretention islands
pervious pavements
infiltration trenches
zero curbs or curb cuts
allow more or the same number of parking spaces on smaller land areas
South Texas College – McAllen, TX
Parking lot infiltration island
Public Park – Cameron County, TX
Pervious parking and infiltration trench

27. gi enhances street and roadway designs
Rain gardens within curb bump-outs, roundabouts
Porous walkways, trails
Swales, tree pits
This sustainable, complete street is welcoming for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit while maintaining plentiful street greenery and managing stormwater.

28. Green Project Reserve (GPR) Projects
Guides TWDB SRF funding toward projects that:
utilize green or soft-path practices to complement and augment hard or gray infrastructure,
adopt practices that reduce the environmental footprint of water and wastewater treatment, collection, and distribution,
help utilities adapt to climate change,
adopt more sustainable solutions to wet weather flows,
provide mechanisms to reinvest savings from reductions in water loss and energy conservation,
promote innovative approaches to water management problems.
Can be used for planning, design, and/or construction activities that advance one or more objectives in four categories (Green Infrastructure, Water Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, and Environmentally Innovative).

29. Why is Leveraging Important Between the 319h & CWSRF Programs?
Funding Resource – The CWSRF program can fund significant portions of watershed protection efforts
Partnerships – States have the opportunity to target CWSRF funds to their own water quality priorities.
Implementation of Watershed Protection Plans – Brings significant state & local resources for watershed project implementation

30. Federal Funding Options for Drinking Water / Wastewater Projects
WIFIA
WIIN
CWA SRF
DWSRF
CWA 319
Drinking Water Treatment X
Wastewater Treatment
Enhanced Energy Efficiency
Desalination, aquifer recharge, alternative water supply, and water recycling projects
Drought prevention, reduction, or mitigation projects

31. Curry Jones