WIFIA Solutions for Navigating the Funding Process

I need help navigating the funding process.

Outside funding is typically needed to address large water infrastructure projects, but navigating the funding process can be daunting. Unless there are staff dedicated to securing and complying with funding requirements, communities might decide to defer projects until a later date. Postponing projects can be risky and lead to larger, more complex projects in the future.

How Can WIFIA Funding Help? 

The WIFIA program can help communities navigate the funding process from beginning to end. The WIFIA team provides comprehensive support during all stages of the process and can also coordinate with other funding programs to streamline processes and eliminate duplicative efforts.

• Wide Range of Eligibilities: The WIFIA program can provide funding to public and private borrowers for their drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects. WIFIA funding may be used to pay for planning, design, construction, and some financing costs. Borrowers can also use WIFIA funding to address multiple types of projects at once (e.g., wastewater and stormwater). This wide range of eligibilities makes it easier for communities to receive WIFIA funding for all their various water infrastructure needs.
• Dedicated Loan Management Team: The WIFIA team can provide support and technical assistance to communities even before submission of their Letter of Interest. This help continues throughout the project selection, application, loan closing, and post-loan closing processes. Communities have a dedicated team to answer questions and make the process as efficient as possible.
• Coordination with Other Funders: To minimize complications, the WIFIA program works with co-funding entities to create efficient processes for borrowers. For example, the WIFIA program’s environmental team works with other co-funders to determine a lead agency, share documentation, and perform one environmental review, instead of a separate environmental review for each funding source.
• Streamlined Reporting Requirements: The WIFIA program can accept financial, technical, and environmental reporting documentation required for other funding sources. This flexibility saves the community time and resources by limiting the need to generate multiple reports.

Hear What Our Borrowers Are Saying:

“WIFIA staff are accessible, knowledgeable, and engaging. Their support made what seemed to be a very daunting process manageable.” – Penny Feist, Assistant Director of Public Works and Utilities (2023), City of Wichita, Kansas

“The WIFIA engineering, environmental and financial personnel have been extremely helpful in teaming up with DeKalb County to provide safe and reliable water and wastewater services to the community well into the future.” – Michael Thurmond, CEO (2023), DeKalb County, Georgia